Party Turn

Two-player game

How to play four in a row

Four in a row is a two-player game on an upright grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. Players take turns dropping a disc of their color into a column, where it falls to the lowest free space. The first to line up four discs across, down or diagonally wins; a full grid with no line is a draw.

  • 2 players
  • 5 to 10 min
  • 6 and up
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How to play

You need: a four in a row board, or one phone.

  1. Pick colors: one player is red, the other blue. Red goes first.
  2. On your turn, drop one disc into any column that is not full. It falls to the lowest empty space.
  3. Line up four of your discs in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win.
  4. If all 42 spaces fill with no line of four, the game is a draw.

Rules

  • One disc per turn. You choose the column; gravity chooses the row.
  • A full column cannot take another disc.
  • Diagonal lines count in both directions.
  • Alternate who starts, because the first player has the advantage.

Variants

Swap colors
Play a match of an even number of games and swap who starts each time, so the first-player advantage evens out.
Five in a row
On a wider board, play for five. It rewards long-range planning over quick tricks.
Timed turns
Give each move 10 seconds. Fast play makes missed threats much more common.

Tips to play better

  • Start in the middle column. A disc there is part of more possible lines than a disc anywhere else.
  • Build threats: three in a line with the fourth space empty. Two threats at once usually win.
  • Watch the space under a threat. Never drop a disc that lets your rival play on top of it.
  • Block early. A line of two with open spaces on both ends is already dangerous.

Read the full four in a row strategy guide

Four in a row questions

Who wins four in a row with perfect play?

The first player. The game was solved in 1988, by James Dow Allen and independently by Victor Allis: if the first player starts in the middle column and plays perfectly, they can always win.

How big is a four in a row board?

The standard board has 7 columns and 6 rows, 42 spaces in all, so each player has 21 discs.

Do diagonal lines count in four in a row?

Yes. Four in a line across, down or on either diagonal wins.

What is the best first move in four in a row?

The middle column. It is the only first move that wins with perfect play.

Updated November 4, 2026 by the team.