How to Play Connect Four Online

What You Need

• ✅ 2 players — or play solo against AI
• ✅ A browser — desktop, tablet, or mobile
• ✅ No account required (guest play available)
• ✅ Free — no ads, no download

The Rules

1. 1The boardThe board has 7 columns and 6 rows. One player uses red discs, the other uses yellow.
2. 2Take turns dropping a discOn your turn, pick any column and drop your disc in. It falls to the lowest empty row in that column.
3. 3Get four in a row to winConnect four of your discs in a straight line — left to right, top to bottom, or diagonally. First to do it wins.
4. 4DrawIf all 42 spaces fill up and nobody has four in a row, the game ends in a draw.

Winning Directions

Four in a row counts in any of these directions:

Strategy Tips

• 💡 Start in the middle column

  The center column (column 4) touches more winning lines than any other. Drop your first disc there — it gives you the most options.

• 💡 Build from the bottom

  Stacking discs high early limits your options. Build your lines low first — the board fills up fast and low pieces are harder to block.

• 💡 Watch the diagonals

  Diagonal wins are the easiest to miss. Before you drop a disc, check if you are accidentally helping your opponent complete a diagonal line.

• 💡 Set up two threats at once

  If you can create a situation where you have two different ways to win, your opponent can only block one. This wins almost every time.

• 💡 Do not fill a column prematurely

  Once a column is full, it is gone. If filling a column gives your opponent a winning space on top, avoid it until the time is right.

Playing on Boardly