Connect Four
Drop discs and connect four in a row to win! Play against AI or a friend.
Click a column to drop your disc. Connect four in a row to win!
About Connect Four
Connect Four is a classic two-player connection board game first sold by Milton Bradley in 1974. The game is also known as "Four in a Row" and "Captain's Mistress". It has since become one of the most popular strategy games in the world.
Players take turns dropping colored discs into a vertical grid. The discs fall to the lowest available space within the column. The objective is to be the first to form a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of four of your own discs.
Our version features both a challenging AI opponent with adjustable difficulty levels and a two-player mode for playing against friends. The game tracks scores across multiple rounds so you can have extended matches.
Cognitive Benefits
Strategic Thinking
Connect Four develops strategic thinking as you plan multiple moves ahead while anticipating your opponent's responses and setting up winning combinations.
Pattern Recognition
Players learn to recognize winning patterns and threatening configurations, developing visual processing skills that transfer to other areas.
Decision Making
Each move requires weighing offensive opportunities against defensive necessities, improving your ability to make quick, informed decisions.
Social Skills
Two-player mode encourages face-to-face interaction, teaching sportsmanship, taking turns, and handling both winning and losing gracefully.
Winning Strategies
- Control the center: The middle column offers the most winning opportunities. Try to dominate it early.
- Plan for multiple threats: Set up positions where you can win in more than one way, forcing your opponent into a losing position.
- Watch for forced moves: Sometimes you must block an opponent's threat, which they can exploit to control the game.
- Build from the bottom: Lower pieces support higher ones. Establishing a strong base allows for more options.
- Create "7" traps: An advanced technique where you set up threats that work together to guarantee a win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Connect Four a solved game?
Yes! In 1988, it was mathematically proven that the first player can always win with perfect play by starting in the middle column. However, the complexity means humans rarely play perfectly, making it enjoyable despite being "solved."
What's the best first move?
The center column is the strongest first move, as it's part of the most possible winning lines. From there, the first player can force a win with perfect play.
How does the AI work?
Our AI uses the minimax algorithm with alpha-beta pruning, evaluating future positions to find the best moves. Higher difficulties look further ahead and play more optimally.
Can the game end in a draw?
Yes! If all 42 spaces are filled without anyone connecting four, the game is a draw. This is relatively rare between skilled players but can happen.