How to play Four in a Row
Four in a Row is played on a grid of seven columns and six rows by two players, Red and Yellow. These are the rules used on Turnpan.
Dropping discs
Players take turns. On your turn, choose a column and drop one of your discs into it: the disc falls to the lowest empty cell of that column. A full column cannot be chosen. Red moves first.
Winning
The first player to get four of their own discs in a row wins. The four can run across a row, up a column, or along either diagonal, and a longer line counts too. You also win if your opponent runs out of time or resigns.
Draws
If all 42 cells are filled and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw. There are no draw offers.
The clock
Timed games use a 2+3 clock: two minutes each, and three seconds are added after every move. Bot games can also be played without a clock.
Try it yourself
You play red. Drop a disc to finish four in a row along the diagonal.
Three tips for beginners
- Take the center column early: it is part of the most possible lines.
- Always check what your opponent threatens before you drop, and block any open three.
- Look for a double threat: two different cells that each complete four, so your opponent can only block one.