Four in a Row

Take turns dropping a disc into one of seven columns. It falls to the lowest empty cell. The first to line up four of their discs wins.

Play now — no sign-up · Play Four in a Row free

The rules, in four steps.

1. The board has 7 columns and 6 rows. Each move drops one disc into a column that is not full.
2. Four of your discs in a line win: across, up or diagonally.
3. If all 42 cells fill up with no line of four, the game is a draw.
4. Online games are rated: the first player is drawn at random, and each player has 2 minutes for the whole game.

Seven columns, six rows, one line of four

Four in a Row is played on an upright board of seven columns and six rows. Two players take turns dropping a disc into a column, and it falls to the lowest empty cell. The first to line up four of their own discs, across, up or diagonally, wins. If the board fills with no line of four, the game is a draw. There is no luck in it.

It is also a solved game. In 1988 James D. Allen and Victor Allis showed, independently of each other, that the first player can always win by starting in the middle column and playing perfectly from there. Nobody plays perfectly at the board, so every game is still open. On Duelto it is played against a bot with three levels, by two players on one screen, or online against a real opponent for rating.

Three bot levels

Easy

Takes a win when it sees one, otherwise plays loosely toward the middle. The place to start, from age 6.

Medium

Also blocks your four and never drops a disc that lets you win on top of it. A real game for most children, from age 8.

Hard

Looks about ten moves ahead and rarely misses a threat. Strong, but not perfect. From age 10.

How to get better

• Start in the middle column. A disc there belongs to more possible lines of four than a disc anywhere else.
• Before every move, check two things: can you win right now, and can your opponent? Win first, block second.
• Look at the cell above the one you fill. If your opponent can make four there, your disc has just given it to them.
• Build two threats at once. Your opponent can block only one of them.
• Late in the game, the row a threat sits on matters. Counting from the bottom, threats on odd rows tend to help the first player and threats on even rows the second.
• Against the bot, use the Hint button when you are stuck. After a loss, the game shows you the key moment.

Questions

Can the first player always win at Four in a Row?

With perfect play, yes. On the standard 7×6 board the first player wins by starting in the middle column (Allen and Allis, 1988). Starting in one of the two columns next to it lets the second player force a draw, and starting further out lets the second player win. Perfect play needs far more than anyone can work out at the board, so real games stay open. Online, the first player is drawn at random.

Is Four in a Row good for children?

Yes. It trains spotting patterns in every direction, thinking a move or two ahead, and attacking and defending at the same time. The rules take a minute to learn, and a game takes a few minutes.

How do online games work?

Online games are rated. The first player is drawn at random, and each player has 2 minutes for the whole game; whoever runs out loses. A full board with no line of four is a draw and changes no rating.

Can I play without an account?

Yes. Against the bot and with two players on one screen, Four in a Row needs no account. Online games and the rating need a free one.

Is it free?

Yes. Every game on Duelto is free to play, with no ads inside the game and nothing to buy.

Do I need to download anything?

No. Duelto runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer. A free account, made with an email address, is all you need.

Can children play?

Duelto is open from age 8. Accounts for players under 13 are activated by a parent through the confirmation email, and run with extra restrictions.

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