Four in a Row

Rules and help

How to play Four in a Row

You and Alden share a grid of seven columns and six rows. You play gold. He plays red. Take turns dropping one disc into a column. It falls to the lowest open square. The first to line up four — across, down, or on a diagonal — wins. If every square is full and neither side has a line, the game is a draw. You go first, unless you ask Alden to open.

Your move

Click or tap a column that still has room. With a keyboard, the keys 1 through 7 are the columns from left to right. 4 is the middle. Those keys stay quiet while the menu, the First list, or any button other than a column has focus.

Alden

Alden follows one short rule, in this order. He only drops into the lowest open square of a column. A square above that disc is not a move until the one under it is filled.

• If he can complete four on this drop, he does. When more than one column wins, he takes the one closest to the middle. If two are the same distance, he takes the one on the left.
• If you could complete four on your next drop, he takes that column, with the same tie-break. When two columns would both win for you, he can stop only one.
• He refuses a column when your next disc would win there. He also refuses a column when you have an answer that leaves two winning columns. He takes an open end of a growing line before both ends are ready.
• Of the columns that remain, he prefers one that leaves him a win on his next drop. He would rather not leave you a winning column either. When those are equal, he takes the open column closest to the middle, and the left one when the distance matches.

From the middle outward, that order is column 4, then 3, then 5, then 2, then 6, then 1, then 7. On an empty board he opens in column 4. He does not plan a long way ahead. A trap that still needs two quiet moves can beat him.

Who goes first

First is You or Alden. Change it before you start, or during a game if you are willing to clear the grid. When he opens, and nothing is on the board, he drops in column 4.

The count

You, Alden, and Draws count finished games on this device. A game adds one when the grid is settled. New game before that does not add to the count.

Using this game

Press New game to clear the grid and start again with the same First setting. If you leave this tab while Alden is choosing a column, he waits, and plays when you come back. The count stays on this device.

Tips

• If you can finish a line, do it. Alden will, when it is his turn.
• Every horizontal four on the bottom row passes through the middle square. If he holds that square, that line is closed.
• Both open ends of a short line are not enough. He takes one end on the move before you can use them.
• He still misses a threat that is two moves from being ready. Start a second line before the first one is urgent.

Playing on a phone or tablet

Tap a column to drop a gold disc. Alden plays red. New game and who goes first stay above the board.

Frequently asked questions

What is Four in a Row?

A folk game on a grid of seven columns and six rows. Two colors take turns dropping a disc. The first to line up four, in any direction, wins. A full grid with no line is a draw.

Does Alden play perfectly?

No. He takes a win, blocks a loss, and will not drop where your answer leaves two winning columns. He does not look many moves ahead, so a slower trap can beat him.

Can Alden go first?

Yes. Set First to Alden. On an empty board he opens in column 4.

Where is the count kept?

In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.