About Connect Four
Connect Four is a classic two-player strategy game. Here you play against the computer, with three levels: Easy makes casual moves, Medium looks a few moves ahead, and Hard plans deep.
Play up to five rounds, taking turns to go first.
Connect Four at a glance
| Genre | Board game |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no download or sign-up |
| Controls | Tap |
| Typical game length | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Lives | 3 lost rounds |
| Works on | Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser |
| Daily challenge | Yes, the same puzzle for everyone each day |
How to play Connect Four
- Tap a column. Your disc drops to the lowest free spot.
- Line up four. Across, down or diagonal.
- Block the computer. Watch for its lines too.
Rules
- A lost round costs a heart; 3 hearts per game.
- Up to 5 rounds.
Levels and difficulty
Easy, Medium and Hard computer opponents.
Scoring
Wins earn the most points, draws some. Harder opponents multiply the points. Daily challenge scores can be shared with friends.
Tips and strategy for Connect Four
- Control the center column: it is part of the most lines.
- Build threats on odd rows when you go first.
- Always check whether the computer can win on its next move.
History of the game
Connect Four was first sold by Milton Bradley in 1974.
How we built and tested Connect Four
The computer uses a search with alpha-beta pruning up to 5 moves ahead on Hard, and each move takes under 40 milliseconds in our tests.
Frequently asked questions
How smart is the Hard computer?
It looks 5 moves ahead and is tough to beat.
Who goes first?
You and the computer take turns going first each round.