Four in a Row Rules

1. Objective

Be the first player to connect four of your counters in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line.

2. Dropping counters

Players take turns choosing one of the seven columns. The counter falls to the lowest empty space in that column and cannot be moved afterward.

3. Full columns

A full column cannot receive another counter. Choose a different column on your turn; the game continues until someone connects four or the board fills.

4. Blocking threats

Look for immediate winning moves and block them before building your own line. A single counter can contribute to horizontal, vertical, and diagonal threats at once.

5. Winning move

A move wins immediately when it creates at least one line of four connected counters. The line may include counters placed earlier in the game.

6. Draws

If all spaces are filled and neither player has four in a row, the game ends in a draw.