Play Connect Four Online
Drop discs and connect four in a row — play vs AI or a friend.
How to Play Connect Four
Modes: Vs AI · 2 Players
Choose red or yellow and take turns dropping discs into a column.
A disc falls to the lowest empty row in that column.
Connect four of your discs in a row, column or diagonal to win.
The board is full without a winner? That is a draw.
Rules
Columns have six slots; a full column cannot take another disc.
The first to line up four discs wins.
Vs AI, you move first as Red and pick a difficulty for the computer.
Scoring
| Win streak | beat the AI consecutively to grow your streak |
History & Origins of Connect Four
Connect Four was invented in 1974 by Howard Wexler, who wanted a game children could set up and understand in seconds, and it was first marketed by the toy company Milton Bradley. The coin-drop idea behind it is far older: upright games such as The Captain’s Mistress, where pieces are slotted into a standing board, were already known in the 18th century.
From family rooms the game travelled to arcades, handheld consoles and eventually the web, becoming one of the most widely recognised two-player titles of the late twentieth century. Its appeal rests on a single elegant mechanic: gravity. Because every disc falls straight down, a move is never just about one row — it shapes the columns above and below for the rest of the game.
ThinkyPlay keeps the classic 7×6 board and the same drop-into-any-column rulebook. Take on an AI that reads one move ahead on Easy, four on Medium and six on Hard, or share the screen with a friend, and build the longest consecutive win streak you can against the computer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring the AI’s open three — on Medium and Hard the computer turns any three it can extend into a win, so block the open end before building your own attack.
- Dropping into the centre column out of habit every turn: the middle is strong early, but a reflex centre play leaves both flanks open once the stack gets tall.
- Playing only along the bottom row — a single-level attack is easy to seal, so the AI simply caps your line while you never threaten diagonals or verticals.
- Chasing your winning column while a back-door threat sits on the other side — a drop that lets Yellow finish on the next turn is still a loss even if it looks like your four is coming.
Tips & Strategy
Control the center columns early — they offer the most lines.
Block your opponent before you chase your own win.
Look for setups that create two threats at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Connect Four free to play?
- Yes — Connect Four on ThinkyPlay is free, with no download and no sign-up.
- Can I play with a friend?
- Yes — switch to 2 Players mode and take turns on the same screen.
- How strong is the AI?
- Easy makes simple moves, Medium plans a few moves ahead and Hard searches deep for the best drop.
- What happens when the board fills with no winner?
- The game ends in a draw and the result dialog says so. Your win streak is reset, and you can start a fresh game or close the dialog to study the finished board.
- Can I undo a disc after I drop it?
- No — Connect Four has no undo or hint, so choose each column carefully. If a game goes badly you can always start over with the New Game button.
- Why does my Best streak stay at zero?
- The best score is your longest run of consecutive wins against the AI. Any loss or draw resets the streak, so a single slip can wipe out a long run.
- Does 2 Players mode track my streak too?
- No — streaks and the best stat only apply in vs AI mode. In 2 Players the game simply crowns Red or Yellow and lets you start again.