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Four in a Row Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at 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.

Favour the middle column

Lesson 1

The Four in a Row board has seven columns, and each one takes part in a different number of possible horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. The middle column has room on both sides, so a disc there can extend a line in every direction — horizontal, vertical or either diagonal. Columns near the edge run out of board sooner, cutting down the lines they can join.

Here each of you has dropped just one disc so far. No column is illegal, but building from the middle column keeps your options open no matter which direction the game develops toward.

When you're unsure where to open, favour the middle column. Edge columns simply have fewer directions left to grow into.

Don't stack a win for your opponent

Lesson 2

Your own move can hand your opponent the win on their very next turn. If dropping into a column raises the stack to exactly the height your opponent needs, avoid that column — even when your disc there looks fine on its own, check what becomes reachable one row above it.

Here yellow already has three in a diagonal. The fourth space is still one row too high to reach. Drop into the column beneath it now, and you fill the missing disc — leaving yellow able to complete the diagonal and win on their very next turn.

Drop into the glowing column at the edge instead, and yellow's diagonal stays out of reach. Before you choose a column, check what move it opens up one row above.

Build an open three

Lesson 3

When three of your discs line up with both ends open and immediately playable, that's an open three. Your opponent can block only one end on their next turn. Drop into the other end afterwards, and you complete four in a row.

Here you already have two red discs with a one-column gap between them. Drop into that middle gap and you get three reds in a row, with both neighbouring spaces open and playable right now.

Once you have this shape, the win is effectively decided. Whichever end your opponent blocks, you simply play the other and complete four. Look for a gap between two of your own discs every time you scan the board.

Don't miss a diagonal three

Lesson 4

A horizontal or vertical three catches the eye, but a diagonal three is easy to miss. When you check your opponent's discs, look both ways diagonally as well as across and up.

Here yellow has three discs climbing diagonally from the bottom left. The fourth space is now exactly reachable in the glowing column — miss it on your turn, and yellow wins on theirs.

Drop into the glowing column and block the diagonal fourth first. Diagonals don't stand out the way rows and columns do, so get in the habit of tracing all four directions before you play.

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 2026-09-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.