4 in a Rowplay the classic strategy game online, free
Drop discs into the grid and line up four in a row — across, up, or diagonally. Beat the computer on Easy, Medium, or Hard, or play a friend on one device. No download, no sign-up.
Set up a game
Looks a few moves ahead and rarely misses a trap.
Line up four discs — across, up, or diagonally — to win
Choose a match-up and press play.
What is 4 in a Row
Drop a disc, line up four, win
4 in a Row is a two-player strategy game on a seven-column, six-row grid. You take turns dropping discs into the columns; each disc falls to the lowest open cell. The first to line up four of their colour — across, up, or diagonally — wins. Simple to learn, and deep enough that the first player can force a win with perfect play.
- Three computer levels
- Play the built-in opponent on Easy, Medium, or Hard. Easy is a gentle warm-up; Hard searches several moves deep and contests the centre every time.
- Two-player pass-and-play
- Hand one device back and forth. The board shows whose turn it is in their colour and keeps the score for the sitting.
- Plays in your browser
- No download, no install, no plugins. 4inarowgame.com loads a board instantly on desktop and mobile, and restart never reloads the page.
- Undo and local stats
- Unlimited undo to explore a line, plus wins, losses, and streaks per level saved on your device — never on a server.
How to play
How to play 4 in a Row
Two players, one grid, one rule that matters: get four of your discs in a line before the other side does. You pick the column; gravity picks the row.
- 1
Read the grid
The board is seven columns wide and six rows tall — 42 cells in all, and it starts empty. You play yellow, your opponent plays red. Yellow always moves first, which is a small but real advantage.
- 2
Drop a disc
On your turn, choose a column. Your disc drops straight down and settles on top of whatever is already there — you never choose the row, only the column. Then it is the other side’s turn. Columns fill up and eventually lock out.
- 3
Line up four
You win the instant four of your discs sit in an unbroken line — across a row, up a column, or along either diagonal. The four winning discs light up. There is no move to make after that; the game is over.
- 4
Block and build
Every turn does two jobs: stop your opponent’s line from reaching four, and grow one of your own. When the grid fills with no line of four anywhere, the game is a draw — start a new one and swap the pressure back.
Tips to win more games
- Open in the centre column. Every horizontal and diagonal four must pass through the middle three columns, so central discs do the most work.
- Always scan for three-in-a-line — yours and theirs — before you move. Complete your own; block theirs.
- Build two threats at once. If you can make a move that creates two different winning squares, your opponent can only block one.
- Watch the square above a threat. Filling the cell below a winning square hands your opponent the win on top — avoid it unless you must.
- Count parity. Threats you complete on odd rows (1, 3, 5) favour the first player; even-row threats favour the second. Aim your lines at the rows that suit your side.
- Do not chase a single line. If it is fully blocked, switch to a new direction rather than adding dead discs.
- Use undo to test a line against the computer, see what it opens up, and take it back if the position got worse.
FAQ
4 in a Row, answered
Straight answers about the free 4 in a Row strategy game you can play online in your browser.
What is 4 in a Row?
4 in a Row is a two-player strategy game played on an upright seven-column, six-row grid. Players alternate dropping coloured discs into the columns; a disc falls to the lowest empty cell. The first player to line up four of their own discs horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins. If the grid fills with no line of four, the game is a draw.
Is 4 in a Row the same as Connect 4?
4 in a Row is the generic name for the game sold under the Connect Four trademark. The rules are identical: the same 7×6 grid, the same drop-and-stack movement, and the same win condition of four in an unbroken line. This site is an independent implementation and is not affiliated with any toy manufacturer.
Is 4 in a Row free to play online?
Yes. 4inarowgame.com is completely free and runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to buy, download, or install, and there are no interruptive video ads, premium tiers, or paywalls. Open the page and a board is ready.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. The game is the website — a 100% browser-based build with no app-store download and no sign-up. Your stats are saved locally in your browser, so there is no login to manage.
How do you win at 4 in a Row?
You win by getting four of your discs in a straight, unbroken line: four across a row, four up a column, or four along a diagonal in either direction. The moment that line is complete the game ends in your favour — there is no further move. A single line of four is enough; you do not need multiple lines.
Can the game end in a draw?
Yes. If all 42 cells are filled and neither player has four in a line, the game is a draw. Draws are common between two careful players and rare when one side is clearly stronger, because a mistake usually opens a line before the grid fills.
Do I choose which row my disc lands in?
No. You only choose the column. Gravity drops the disc to the lowest open cell in that column. Reaching a specific square means the cells beneath it have to be filled first, which is the core of the puzzle — you often have to force your opponent to build the platform you need.
Does the first player always win?
With perfect play on the standard 7×6 grid, the first player can force a win by opening in the centre column — this was solved by computer analysis in 1988. Human players are far from perfect, so in practice the first move is an advantage but not a guarantee. In this version, yellow moves first every game.
How do the Easy, Medium, and Hard computer levels differ?
Easy takes an immediate win and blocks an immediate loss but is otherwise close to random, so it is good for learning the board. Medium searches a few moves ahead and rarely misses a simple trap. Hard searches several moves deep with pruning, fights for the centre, and avoids handing you a win — beating it consistently takes real planning.
What is the best opening move?
Drop your first disc in the centre column. Every horizontal and every diagonal line of four has to include one of the middle three columns, and the exact centre sits on the most potential lines of any cell on the board. Controlling it early gives you the most ways to win and denies them to your opponent.
Can I play 4 in a Row with a friend?
Yes. Choose the two-player option on the start screen for pass-and-play on one device. The board shows whose turn it is in their colour, the score for the sitting is kept on screen, and a new game is a single tap. There is no online multiplayer — it is local, same-screen play.
Does the game save my progress?
Your games played, wins, losses, draws, and win streak against each computer level are saved locally in your browser, along with the two-player head-to-head record. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no account. Because the save lives on the device, a different phone, a new browser profile, or cleared site data looks like a fresh start. A game in progress is not saved if you close the tab.
Can I play 4 in a Row on mobile?
Yes. The layout is built for touch: the full grid and the turn indicator fit one portrait screen, each column is a large tap target, and starting a new game is instant with no page reload.