Four in a Row Rules: How to Play and Win
Four in a row is a two-player game on an upright board of 7 columns and 6 rows. Players drop discs into the columns, and the first to line up four of their own discs in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — wins.
- The board has 7 columns and 6 rows (42 spaces) and stands upright.
- Red moves first; players take turns dropping one disc into a column that is not full.
- The disc falls to the lowest empty space of that column.
- Four of your discs in a line — horizontal, vertical or diagonal — win at once.
- If all 42 spaces fill up without four in a row, the game is a draw.
The board
The board is an upright frame with 7 columns and 6 rows: 42 round spaces. On Ttakji the columns are numbered 1 to 7 from left to right and the rows 1 to 6 from the bottom up, and both players see the board the same way. One player has red discs, the other yellow discs.
How to play
- Decide who plays Red: Red drops the first disc. Online, colours are chosen at random.
- On your turn, choose a column that still has an empty space.
- Drop one disc into it: the disc falls to the lowest empty space of that column.
- Take turns. You cannot pass, and discs never move once they are played.
- The game ends when someone has four in a row, or in a draw when the board is full.
How to win
You win the moment four of your own discs stand next to each other in one straight line: along a row (horizontal), up a column (vertical) or on a slant (diagonal, in either direction). The line may have no gap and no opposing disc inside it.
A line of five, six or seven discs also wins: the rule is four or more.
When is it a draw?
When the 42nd disc is dropped and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw. If that last disc completes a line of four, it is a win, not a draw. Online, players can also agree to a draw: each player may offer one up to 3 times per game.
Time limit and online games
Online games use one clock: 30 seconds for every move. If the time runs out on your turn, you lose. If you disconnect, the clock keeps running; reconnect in time and the game goes on. Colours are random in the first game and swap on every rematch. You can resign at any time.
Strategy: five basic tips
A few ideas decide most games. They come from the shape of the board, so they help at every level.
Take the middle column
The middle column (column 4) belongs to more possible lines of four than any other column, so a disc there helps you most and blocks your opponent most. Start there and stay strong in the three central columns.
Block threes in time
Before every move, check whether your opponent can make four on the next turn, and block it. Also watch for threes whose missing space is still in the air: they become a winning threat as soon as the space below fills up.
Make two threats at once
One threat can be blocked; two cannot. Look for a move that creates two different winning spaces at the same time, for example three in a row on the bottom row with both ends open.
Odd and even rows
Count rows from the bottom. A threat on an odd row (1, 3, 5) is strong for the first player, a threat on an even row (2, 4, 6) for the second. As the board fills up, the other player is eventually forced to drop a disc right below such a threat.
Never play under your opponent's threat
If your opponent needs one space to win, do not fill the space directly below it: your disc would hand them that spot. Leave that column alone for as long as you can, and try to make your opponent fill the space under your own threats.
Four in a row vs gomoku and tic-tac-toe
All three games ask you to make a line, but the board and the length of the line change the game completely.
| Feature | Four in a Row | Gomoku | Tic-tac-toe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board | 7×6, standing upright | 15×15 grid, flat | 3×3 grid, flat |
| Where you play | Into a column; the disc falls to the bottom | Any empty point | Any empty square |
| Winning line | 4 in a row or longer | Exactly 5 in a row (standard rule) | 3 in a row |
| First player | Wins with perfect play (solved in 1988) | A big advantage | Draw with perfect play |
| Draw | All 42 spaces full, no line | Board full, no line (rare) | Very common |
| Longest game | 42 discs | 225 stones | 9 marks |
Is four in a row solved?
Yes. In 1988 James D. Allen and Victor Allis independently showed that with perfect play the first player wins by dropping the first disc in the middle column. A first disc in one of the two columns next to the middle leads to a draw with perfect play, and any other first column loses.
Our AI is not a perfect player. Hard is strong and looks several moves ahead, but it does not use a perfect solution, so you can beat it with either colour.
Playing on Ttakji
- Play the AI at three levels: Easy, Normal and Hard. Hard is strong, but you can beat it.
- Against the AI you can undo your last move, and there is no clock.
- Random match pairs you 1:1 with a player anywhere, with 30 seconds per move.
- Play a friend: create a link and send it; your friend joins with one tap.
- You can resign, offer a draw (3 times per game) or ask for a rematch with the colours swapped.
- Ranked four in a row games use their own Elo rating, starting at 1,200, and require a Google sign-in.
Four in a row FAQ
Is four in a row free here? Do I need to download anything or sign up?
Yes, it is free. You play in the browser of your phone, tablet or computer: there is nothing to install and no sign-up for games against the AI, a friend or a random opponent. Only ranked games need a Google sign-in. When no other player is available, some random-match opponents may be AI.
How do you play four in a row?
Two players, Red and Yellow, take turns dropping one disc into one of the 7 columns of an upright board with 6 rows. The disc falls to the lowest empty space of that column. Red goes first. You cannot drop into a full column, and a disc never moves once it is played.
How do you win four in a row?
Make a line of four of your own discs with no gap: horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The game ends the moment the fourth disc lands. A line of five or more counts as a win too.
What happens when the board is full?
If all 42 spaces are filled and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw. A four made with the very last disc still wins.
Can the first player always win?
With perfect play, yes. The game was solved in 1988 by James D. Allen and, independently, by Victor Allis: the first player can force a win by starting in the middle column. Starting in one of the two columns next to it leads to a draw, and starting further out loses against perfect defence. Nobody plays perfectly, so both colours win plenty of real games.
Can I beat the AI?
Yes. Choose Easy, Normal or Hard. Hard is strong and looks several moves ahead, but it is not a perfect player, so careful play can beat it. You can undo moves in games against the AI.
How do I play four in a row with 2 players?
Choose Play a friend to create a link and send it to one friend: you play each other online, each on your own device. Random match pairs you 1:1 with someone anywhere. Two players sharing one device is not available yet.
Is four in a row the same as gomoku?
No. Gomoku is played on a flat 15×15 grid: you place a stone on any empty point and need five in a row. In four in a row the board stands upright, every disc falls to the bottom of its column, and four in a row is enough.
Is four in a row like tic-tac-toe?
It is a bigger cousin. Tic-tac-toe uses a 3×3 grid, needs three in a row and always ends in a draw when both players play well. Four in a row adds gravity and a 7×6 board, so there are far more positions and real strategy.
Can I play on my phone? Is there an app?
Yes, it works in any modern mobile browser: tap a column to drop a disc. You do not need to install an app.
How much time do I have per move online?
30 seconds per move in online games. If your time runs out, you lose the game. If you disconnect, your clock keeps running, so come back before it reaches zero. Games against the AI have no clock.
What are the best tips to win?
Play in the middle column early, block every three of your opponent's in time, create two threats at once so only one can be stopped, and mind the rows of your threats: odd rows (1, 3, 5 from the bottom) favour the first player, even rows the second.