In Connect 4, two players take turns dropping their coloured discs into a standing grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. Each disc falls to the lowest empty space in its column. The first player to line up four discs in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, wins. In Hasbro’s official rules, the youngest player goes first.
This guide follows Hasbro’s official rulebook for the classic game (A5640). It covers setup, how a turn works, the three ways to win, what happens in a draw, and a fact most rule pages miss: Connect 4 has been mathematically solved, and the first player can always win with perfect play.
- Players: 2, ages 6 and up
- Pieces: 21 red discs and 21 yellow discs (42 in total)
- Grid: 7 columns by 6 rows, so 42 spaces
- Who starts: the youngest player
- Each turn: drop one disc into any column that isn’t full
- To win: four of your discs in a row, in any straight line
How to set up Connect 4
- Slide the slider bar into the bottom of the grid.
- Push the two legs onto the sides of the grid, so it stands up.
- Each player takes all the discs of one colour: 21 red or 21 yellow.
How to play Connect 4
- The youngest player goes first.
- Drop one disc into any slot at the top of the grid. It falls as far down as it can.
- Take turns, one disc each, until someone gets four in a row or the grid is full.
You drop one disc per turn. Once a disc is in the grid, it stays where it lands.
The three ways to win
Hasbro’s rulebook shows three ways to make four in a row:
- Horizontal: four discs side by side in the same row.
- Vertical: four discs stacked in the same column.
- Diagonal: four discs in a slanting line, going up to the left or up to the right.
The first player to make any of these wins straight away. To start the next game, the winner slides the bar to the side to drop all the discs out of the grid, then the players share out the discs again.
What happens if nobody gets four in a row?
If all 42 spaces fill up and neither player has four in a row, the game is a draw. With 21 discs each, the grid fills exactly when both players have used all their discs. Just release the discs and play again.
Can the first player always win at Connect 4?
Yes, with perfect play. In 1988, computer scientist Victor Allis solved the game. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) course handout on the mathematics of games summarises his result: with perfect play by both players, the first player can always win by playing the middle column first. If the first player starts in any other column, the second player can always force a draw.
In real games, nobody plays perfectly, so it is still a fun and fair contest. But it does mean going first is an advantage, so a simple fix is to take turns going first between games.
Simple Connect 4 strategy tips
- Start in the middle. By our count, the grid has 69 possible lines of four, and the centre column is part of 51 of them, against just 15 for each edge column. It is also the winning first move in Allis’s solution.
- Block straight away. If your opponent has three in a row with an open space, block it on your turn.
- Watch the diagonals. Diagonal lines are the easiest to miss, for both players.
- Make two threats at once. If you can set up two different ways to win, your opponent can only block one.
- Think about the space underneath. A disc can only land on top of another disc, so sometimes you must avoid filling the space just below where your opponent needs to play.
More classic game rules: the official Guess Who rules, the full Yahtzee rules, and how to read chess notation.
Frequently asked questions
Who goes first in Connect 4?
Hasbro’s official rules say the youngest player goes first. Because going first is an advantage, you can swap who starts each game.
How many discs are in Connect 4?
42: 21 red and 21 yellow. That is exactly enough to fill the 7 by 6 grid.
Do diagonals count in Connect 4?
Yes. Four in a row can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
Can Connect 4 end in a draw?
Yes. If the grid fills up and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw.
Is Connect 4 a solved game?
Yes. Victor Allis solved it in 1988: the first player can always win with perfect play by starting in the middle column.
What is the best first move in Connect 4?
The middle column. It is the first move that leads to a forced win with perfect play.
How big is a Connect 4 board?
The standard grid has 7 columns and 6 rows, which makes 42 spaces.
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