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3D Four in a Row Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at 3D Four in a Row, split into short lessons. Each one reads on its own, and each one comes with a real position: press Try it on the board and you play the move yourself.

Rotate to find their three

Lesson 1

Blue has three beads across a level. Use Rotate to inspect the pegs behind other beads. Rotating moves no bead and does not change whose turn it is.

Dropping on the peg next to Blue’s three lands at level 2 and blocks Blue’s line. Check diagonals across levels as well as rows and pegs on every turn.

Beads in front can hide the lower parts of pegs behind them. Trace the blue beads at the same height first, then look up each peg, and finally check lines that rise by one level at a time. Once you find a possible fourth space, count the beads supporting it. An empty space that is still too high to reach is less urgent than one your opponent can reach on the next turn.

Build two threats at once

Lesson 2

A threat is a line needing one more bead for four. Two threats with different winning pegs form a double threat: one move cannot block both.

Drop on the glowing peg to threaten two lines at once. When your opponent blocks one, drop on the glowing peg that completes the other to win.

Three beads in a line alone do not guarantee a win. The fourth space must already be reachable, with enough beads below it. Your two threats also need different winning pegs: if one opposing bead blocks both lines, the threats do not force a win. In the practice position, the opponent blocks one line after your move. Trace the remaining line and finish it yourself to see why the two threats work together.

Avoid supporting their winning bead

Lesson 3

Your bead can also support your opponent. Even with three blue beads on a rising diagonal, the fourth is unreachable if there is a gap below it.

Dropping on the peg at the end of Blue’s stair fills level 3 and allows Blue to win on level 4. Every other peg prevents an immediate blue win here, so any of them is accepted.

You can accidentally build a support while trying to block a line. Before dropping, look at both the level where your bead will stop and the level immediately above it. Landing on level 3 does not block a threat on level 4. Here every other peg is safe for the next turn, but other positions may have additional threats elsewhere. Check the whole board as well as the space above your chosen peg.

Claim the four central pegs early

Lesson 4

The four central pegs are the four in the middle of the board. Early in the game, look for an empty bottom space on one of these pegs. Beads on neighbouring pegs give you starting points for lines across a row or a diagonal.

Here Blue holds one central peg and Red holds two; only the glowing peg has an empty bottom space. Blue holds both corner pegs on one diagonal and the central peg between them, so a blue bead on the glowing peg would complete that diagonal. Drop Red on the glowing peg to claim the remaining central peg and block that fourth bead at the same time.

Before choosing the centre, still check whether you can win now or whether your opponent can win next. A central move is not always the best move. On an occupied peg, your bead lands higher; to claim an empty bottom space, check the base before tapping.

Try it on the board

Pick a lesson and the board starts from that position. Start over as often as you like.

Now put it to work

Play with friendsLearn how to play (3 min)

Last updated 2026-10-26 · Run by Qdan, Inc.