How to Win at Connect Four — Complete Strategy Guide
Connect Four was solved in 1988 by Victor Allis (independently by James Allen). With perfect play the first player always wins. But “perfect play” means following a 7-million-position decision tree. Here’s the simplified strategy that wins ~95% of games against humans.
Step 1: Always start in the centre column
The centre column (column 4) is part of 7 of the 8 winning lines through any single cell — more than any other column. Starting anywhere else hands your opponent the advantage.
If you’re going second, your priority is to also play in the centre column, ideally directly above your opponent’s piece. This blocks their easiest follow-up threats.
Step 2: Build double threats
A double threat is a position where you can complete two different 4-in-a-rows on your next move. Your opponent can only block one. You win.
The classic shape is the 7: three of your pieces in a row at row-2, with the threat of placing a fourth above-and-to-the-side. If both adjacent cells are open, your opponent can’t block both.
Step 3: Watch for the odd/even threat
Standard Connect Four uses 7 columns of 6 rows = 42 cells. First player (Red) plays on cells 1, 3, 5… 41 — odd-numbered turns. Second player (Yellow) plays on 2, 4, 6… 42 — even turns.
Threats on odd rows (1, 3, 5) favour Red. Threats on even rows (2, 4, 6) favour Yellow. If you’re playing Red, push play upward to set up threats on row 5 (odd) where Yellow can’t reach first. If you’re playing Yellow, push play to row 6 (the top, even) where Red can’t react.
Step 4: Use the seven-trap
This is the most reliable opening trap that ends games before move 15:
1. Red plays centre (column 4). 2. Yellow plays centre. 3. Red plays centre (now three Red in column 4, third row). 4. Yellow MUST block by playing column 4 again. 5. Red plays column 3 (one left of centre). 6. Yellow plays anything. 7. Red plays column 5. 8. Yellow plays anywhere. 9. Red plays column 2 — now there’s a Red threat across the bottom row that wraps left, combined with the diagonal threat from move 5. Yellow can only block one.
Step 5: Endgame — count the columns
Once the board has 30+ pieces, the position is forced — there are usually fewer than 5 playable cells and most lead to forced wins or losses. Count the open columns; calculate which ones lead to a winning row before time runs out.
Practice
Play our Connect Four against the Hard CPU. Hard difficulty uses depth-6 minimax with alpha-beta pruning — strong enough to refute most non-optimal openings. Beat it consistently and you’ll smoke any human opponent.
For more strategy
See our games like Connect Four roundup and how to win at chess for more two-player abstract strategy depth.
