Four in a Row Online — the Classic Connection Game

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Four in a Row is the classic vertical connection game everyone knows: a 7x6 grid, two players, red and yellow discs. On your turn you drop one disc into a column and gravity stacks it at the bottom. The first player to get four of their own discs in a line — horizontal, vertical or diagonal — wins. If all 42 cells fill up with no line of four, the game is a draw.

Here you can play Four in a Row online free, straight from the browser: hit Quick Play to join a table in seconds, or create a room and share its code to play with friends.

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Four in a Row in a nutshell

Two players alternate dropping discs into a 7-column, 6-row vertical grid; each disc falls to the lowest empty cell of its column. Red always moves first. The winner is the first side with four of their discs in a straight line in any direction — across, up-and-down, or diagonal. A board that fills completely with no four-in-a-row is a draw. The game is fully solved: with perfect play the first player wins, which is why the opening move in the middle column matters so much.

How a turn works

Each turn is one gravity drop:

StepWhat happens
1. Pick a columnAny of the 7 columns that still has an empty cell is a legal move
2. The disc fallsGravity drops it to the lowest empty cell of that column — discs never move again
3. Check the linesFour of your discs in a row (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) wins immediately

Frequently asked questions

What is Four in a Row?

Four in a Row is the classic two-player connection game played on a vertical 7x6 grid. Players take turns dropping discs into columns; gravity stacks them, and the first player to line up four of their own discs horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.

How big is the board?

7 columns by 6 rows — 42 cells. Each column holds up to 6 discs, and there are 69 possible four-in-a-row lines on the grid.

Who goes first?

Red always moves first. The first move matters: with perfect play the game is a solved first-player win, and the strongest opening is the middle column.

How do you win?

Get four of your discs in a straight line — horizontal, vertical or diagonal — before your opponent does. The game ends immediately when a four is completed.

What happens if the board fills up?

If all 42 cells are filled and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw. Because every move fills one cell, no game can last longer than 42 moves.

Is Four in a Row solved?

Yes. The game was solved independently in 1988: the first player wins with perfect play, and the winning openings start in the middle column. Against imperfect defense, either player can still win, which is what makes it fun.

Can I play Four in a Row online for free?

Yes — play Four in a Row online free at fourinarow.yeeqia.com, straight in your browser with no download or sign-up required.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes, the site is mobile-first and runs in any modern browser on Android or iPhone. You tap a column to drop your disc.