How to play
Players take turns dropping a counter into a column. The first to make a line of four horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.
One or two players · about 5 minutes
Four in a Row
Drop a mark. Build a line. Notice the trap one move too late.
Play
Blue goes first.
Tap anywhere in a column. The piece falls to the lowest free space.
On paper
Draw a seven-by-six grid and take turns marking the lowest empty square in a column. It works surprisingly well without a plastic frame.
Check the diagonal
Horizontal and vertical threats are easy to notice. Diagonal lines are where many games are lost, so scan both diagonals before every move.
A little more
The centre matters
Central columns belong to more possible lines than edge columns, so they are usually more valuable. The strongest threats are often two moves deep, especially when one move creates two winning options.