Connect Four
Play connect four online free — drop discs against a smart computer or a friend. Four in a row wins, with highlights and score tracking. No download.
You — drop Red
Click or tap a column to drop. Keyboard: ← → choose a column, ↓ drops. Full columns are skipped.
Quick Answer
Connect four is the classic disc-dropping game: take turns dropping red and yellow discs into a 7×6 vertical grid, and the first player to line up four of their color — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — wins. Our free online version pairs you against a minimax computer or a friend in local two-player mode, with drop animations, winning-disc highlights and a running scoreboard. It all runs in your browser, no download or sign-up required.
How It Works
Choose vs Computer or 2 Players — red always drops first
Click or tap the drop button above a column; the disc falls to the lowest empty square
On a keyboard, pick a column with ← → and drop with ↓ (the page will not scroll)
Line up four discs in a row, column or diagonal — winning discs pulse
The scoreboard tracks red, yellow and draws across games and visits
Use Play again for an instant rematch or Reset score to zero the board tally
Key Facts
- Two modes: vs computer or local 2-player on one device
- Computer uses minimax with alpha-beta pruning (depth 6) and center-column weighting
- Drop discs by clicking or tapping a column; full columns are safely ignored
- Keyboard play: arrow keys pick a column, one key drops
- Win detection across all directions — horizontal, vertical and both diagonals
- Winning discs pulse with a highlight animation
- Scoreboard for red, yellow and draws, saved in your browser
- 100% client-side and free — nothing is uploaded, no sign-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win at connect four?
Line up four of your discs in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — before your opponent does. The strongest opening is the center column because it touches the most possible winning lines. Build threats on top of each other: an "odd/even" threat stacked above another forces your opponent to fill the lower square, handing you the square above it.
How strong is the computer opponent?
It runs a minimax search with alpha-beta pruning six moves deep, with extra weight on center columns and quick detection of immediate wins and blocks. It punishes loose play and missed threats fast, but unlike a perfect solver it can occasionally be outfoxed by deep double traps — good players can win.
What are the controls?
Click or tap the drop button above any column — or tap the board area — and the disc falls into that column. On a keyboard, use the left and right arrow keys to pick a column and the down arrow to drop; arrow keys are captured by the game so the page will not scroll. Full columns are disabled and ignored.
What is the best first move in connect four?
Statistically and strategically, the center column. It intersects more four-in-a-row lines than any other column, which is why the computer weights it heavily too. Playing a column adjacent to the center is the next best option; edge columns give up the most winning opportunities.
Can two players play on the same device?
Yes. Switch the mode selector to 2 Players and the grid becomes a local pass-and-play match: red and yellow alternate drops on the same screen, and the scoreboard keeps a running tally of wins and draws between games.
Is this connect four free and private?
Completely free with no sign-up, and 100% private: the game, the computer opponent and your scoreboard all live in your browser. Nothing you play is sent to a server, and the page keeps working offline once loaded.