Four in a Row Free online game

What is it?

Four in a Row is played by dropping discs into the columns of an upright board, aiming to connect four horizontally, vertically or diagonally first. The standard 7-column, 6-row board was fully solved by computer in 1988, proving that the first player always wins with perfect play starting in the center column. That's how much the first move and the center matter.

Yellow goes first. Against the AI you can choose to go first or second, and you can play other people online.

How to play

1. Tap a column and the disc drops to the bottom
2. First to line up 4 horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins
3. Yellow goes first. You can choose to go first or second. Watch out for your opponent's threes

Playing on PC (keyboard · mouse)

On phones you tap the screen; on PC you can also use the mouse and the keys below.

Difficulty and rankings

There's a weekly ranking and an all-time ranking; the weekly one resets every Monday at midnight (Korea time). For details, see the Help.

Good to know on Hanpanmadang

• If the board fills up with no four in a row, it's a draw.
• Online, each move must be made within 30 seconds or you lose.

Learn from examples

Common mistakes

Rushing to block a three when the cell below is still empty.

Discs fall to the lowest empty cell. If the cell below the blocking spot is empty, you can't block yet — the way to defend is not to fill the cell underneath.

Filling the edge columns first.

Edge columns offer fewer ways to make four. Take the center columns first.

Tips

• Play move after move that your opponent is forced to answer and you'll hold the initiative. While they block, your stacked discs become the base for your next threat.
• The height of your threat cells is part of the strategy too. As the board fills, the first player's threats on odd rows from the bottom (1st, 3rd, 5th) gain power, while the second player benefits from threats on even rows.
• Every disc you drop opens the cell above it for your opponent. Never play directly below a cell where they could win.
• Create two winning spots at once and your opponent can only block one.