Introduction
Connect Four is a two-player strategy game where you drop colored discs into a vertical grid, trying to be the first to connect four in a row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. While the rules are simple enough for anyone to pick up, there's surprising depth to the strategy. Here's how to improve your game on PlayMore.gg.
Control the Center Column
The center column is the most important column on the board. A disc in the center can contribute to horizontal connections in either direction and is part of more potential four-in-a-row combinations than any edge column. Make your first move in the center column whenever possible.
If your opponent takes the center, place your disc adjacent to it. Don't let them build unchallenged in the middle.
Think Vertically
New players tend to think horizontally, but vertical threats are just as important — and often harder to block. When your opponent has to respond to a horizontal threat, slip a disc into a column where you're building vertically. Many wins come from vertical connections that the opponent simply didn't notice.
Build Multiple Threats
The key to winning Connect Four is creating a position where you have two ways to win simultaneously. If you threaten to connect four in two different directions with the same move, your opponent can only block one — and you win with the other.
This is why center control matters: central discs participate in more potential connections, making it easier to create dual threats.
Use the "Trap" Setup
A trap (also called a double threat or fork) is when you set up two three-in-a-row sequences that share a critical square. When you eventually fill that square, you threaten to win in two directions at once. The classic example is an L-shaped or T-shaped arrangement that branches into two winning lines.
Watch the Row Heights
Connect Four is a gravity-based game — you can only play at the top of each column. This means a winning square is useless if the square below it isn't filled yet. Think about which squares will become available after the next few moves. Sometimes the winning move is setting up a square several moves in advance.
Force Your Opponent's Moves
Advanced players look for moves that force the opponent to play in a specific column — usually to block a three-in-a-row. Once you can predict where your opponent will play, you can plan around it. If blocking your threat forces them to set up a win for you elsewhere, that's a forced sequence.
Don't Just Block — Counter
When your opponent creates a threat, blocking is necessary but insufficient. The best defensive move is one that blocks the threat while also advancing your own position. Every disc you place should serve double duty whenever possible.
Manage Your Time
In timed games on PlayMore.gg, don't overthink early moves but invest time in critical mid-game decisions. The opening moves are relatively formulaic, but the middle game is where strategy diverges and mistakes happen. Save your clock for the moments that matter.
Learn from Losses
After a loss, replay the game in your head. Where did the winning sequence start? Could you have blocked it three moves earlier? Connect Four is deterministic — the first player can always force a win with perfect play — so losses are always learning opportunities.
Conclusion
Connect Four rewards planning and pattern recognition. Focus on center control, build multiple threats, and think about how each move sets up your next one. With practice, you'll spot winning sequences before your opponent even sees the danger.
Ready to drop some discs? Play Connect Four on PlayMore.gg!