Four in a Row Online with Friends

Four in a Row is a classic 2-player game where each player tries to be the first to connect four discs in a row. The strategy game is also known as "Connect 4", "Four Up" or "Plot Four" and is perfect as a nice pastime.

Here on PlayDodo you can play the board game online with your friends. Create a room now or join an existing game. Have fun!

Rules of Four in a Row

The game is played on a board that is 7 spaces wide and 6 spaces high. Each space can be filled with a disc. At the start, all spaces are empty.

Each player has discs as game pieces that they can place on the board. The discs can only be dropped column by column, so they land on the lowest free space in the respective column. The players' discs are colored differently in red and yellow.

The goal of the game is to be the first to connect four discs in a row. This can happen horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The player who first connects four discs in a row wins the game. If all spaces are filled without a four-in-a-row, the game ends in a draw.

The following GIF shows an example gameplay of Four in a Row:

In this case, the yellow player wins by connecting four of their checkers vertically.

Strategies and Tips

Although the game principle is relatively simple, there are some strategies and tips that can help you decide the game in your favor.

Below are four of these tips.

1. Control the center

The center of the board is considered the most important position. This is because all horizontal winning rows run through the center. Therefore, you should place your discs in the center from the start. If your opponent occupies the center, you should focus on the directly adjacent columns.

2. Play offensively

Try to put your opponent under pressure as quickly as possible. Use your discs to create multiple threats for your opponent. You can achieve this by, for example, placing three discs so that they could form a winning line at each end.

This forces your opponent to constantly block you. This way, you have gained the upper hand over the course of the game.

3. The "unbeatable 7"

There is actually a perfect strategy in Four in a Row. It's called the "unbeatable 7". Here you build up a position where two winning paths are open at the same time. Your opponent can only block one of them. You use the other and secure the victory.

The name comes from the pattern of a 7, which you form through the two winning paths. The following image shows you an example:

Other Game Variants

In addition to the classic version, there are some exciting variations of 4 in a Row.

One of them is "Five in a Row". Here you have to get five pieces in a row instead of four. The board is larger, the games last longer - and that makes them significantly more challenging.

Also popular is "Four in a Row Spin". This variant brings movement into the game: After certain moves, the board can be rotated. This suddenly changes everything, and previously secure rows can fall apart again.

Currently, these variants are not available on PlayDodo. This could change in the future!