Strategy
Checkers
The classic board game of jumps and kings. Capture every piece of the computer, or leave it with no move.
- Keyboard
- Touch
Four in a Row
Drop discs into the grid and line up four of yours before the computer does: across, down or diagonally.
AI
- Won
- 0
- Lost
- 0
- Drawn
- 0
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Four in a Row
Click a column, or press 1 to 7, to drop a disc. Arrow keys move between columns.Tap a column to drop a disc into it.
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About Four in a Row
Four in a Row is a classic two-player strategy game on an upright grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. Players take turns dropping a disc into a column, where it falls to the lowest empty space. The first to line up four of their own discs in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins.
Here you play the blue discs against a computer opponent at one of three levels. Games take a couple of minutes, which makes it a good pick for a quick break, and your wins, losses and draws at each level are kept in your browser.
How to play Four in a Row
- Choose how strong the AI should be: Easy, Medium or Hard.
- Click or tap a column to drop one of your blue discs into it. It falls to the lowest empty space.
- The AI then drops an amber disc. You take turns until someone lines up four.
- Four in a row across, down or diagonally wins. If the board fills up first, the game is a draw.
- Whoever did not open a game opens the next one, so you take turns going first.
Four in a Row controls
| Drop a disc in a column | Number keys 1 to 7 |
|---|---|
| Choose a column | Arrow keys, Home and End |
| Drop into the chosen column | Enter or Space |
| New game | N |
| Sound on or off | M |
| Drop a disc | Tap a column |
|---|---|
| New game | New game button above the board |
Four in a Row rules
Dropping discs
Each turn you drop exactly one disc into a column that is not full. It falls to the lowest empty space in that column. You cannot pass or place a disc anywhere else.
Winning
The first player with four of their own discs in an unbroken straight line wins: across a row, up and down a column, or along either diagonal. The winning line is highlighted. If all 42 spaces fill without a line of four, the game is a draw.
Taking turns to start
You open the first game. After that, whoever did not open a game opens the next one, so going first, which is an advantage in this game, is shared fairly.
The computer opponent
Easy looks 2 moves ahead and sometimes plays a random move, though it never misses a chance to win at once. Medium looks 4 moves ahead and Hard looks 8 moves ahead, counting the lines each side could still complete. The AI only sees the board, never your next move.
Your record
Wins, losses and draws against each level are saved in this browser on this device. A game you abandon by starting a new one does not count.
Tips and strategy
- Take the centre column early. It is part of more possible lines than any other column.
- Before every move, check whether the AI has three in a line with a gap you must fill.
- Look at the space your disc would give the opponent: dropping into a column also offers them the space above it.
- Aim for two threats at once. The AI can only block one of them.
- Threats on low rows matter most, because they are reached first as the board fills up.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same game as the one with the upright plastic grid?
It follows the same classic rules: drop discs into a 7 by 6 grid and be first to line up four. Aback Games made its own version and is not connected to any toy company.
Can you play against a friend?
Not yet. Four in a Row on Aback Games is played against a computer opponent, at three levels.
Can the Hard AI be beaten?
Yes. It looks eight moves ahead, which makes it tough but not perfect. Setting up two threats at once is the surest way to beat it.
Does the first player have an advantage?
Yes. With perfect play the first player can always win, which is why you and the AI take turns going first.
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