How To Win At Connect 4: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Always Win at Connect 4: The Strategy That Will Keep You on Top PDF download Download Article Build your strategic thinking skills by cracking this popular 2-person game Co-authored by Jennifer Mueller, JD Reviewed by Ashton Wu

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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  • Starting the Game
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  • Reading Your Opponent
    • |
  • Building Traps
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was reviewed by Ashton Wu and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 50K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,642,384 times.

Connect 4 is a popular game with an unbeatable winning strategy. Learn that strategy and you'll win every game of Connect 4 you ever play—provided you make no mistakes. But nobody's perfect, and that's why people keep playing this deceptively challenging game. Read on to learn how to shock (or frustrate) your friends by becoming the master of Connect 4 strategy.

Things You Should Know

  • Make the first move to start the game on the attack and more easily control the board.
  • Maximize your possibilities of getting 4 in a row by making most of your moves in the center of the board.
  • Anticipate how your opponent will react to your moves so you can plan your strategy.
  • Connect 3 checkers with an open space on both ends so your opponent can't block you.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Starting the Game

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  1. Step 1 Put your checker in the center column if you're first. 1 Put your checker in the center column if you're first. Your Connect 4 board has 7 columns, which means there's one exactly in the center. Because a checker in the center column allows you to make a Connect 4 in all possible directions, this is the best possible first move.[1]
    • When you're playing a little kid or someone who's never played before, be nice and let them make the first move. You'll probably still win, but this gives them a bit of an edge.
  2. Step 2 Play your checker on top of your opponent's if you're second. 2 Play your checker on top of your opponent's if you're second. The first player definitely has an advantage in Connect 4, but that doesn't mean you automatically lose if you're second. By putting your checker on top of your opponent's checker in the same column, you can guarantee at least a draw.
    • This strategy works best if your opponent drops their first checker in the center column. If they put it somewhere else, take the center column to gain the upper hand.
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  3. Step 3 Focus on controlling the center column. 3 Focus on controlling the center column. Any horizontal or diagonal series of 4 checkers must include a checker in the center column. Put as many of your checkers as possible in the center column and you have a much greater chance of winning.[2]
    • For example, if you put your first checker in the center column and your opponent puts their first checker on top of yours, put your second checker in the center column as well.
    • If you're the second player and you can't control the center column, gain control of one of the columns on either side of it and you'll guarantee at least a draw.
  4. Step 4 Play offensively rather than defensively whenever you can. 4 Play offensively rather than defensively whenever you can. Focus on making connections by placing your checkers close together in the center of the board. Block your opponent when you have to, but try not to get too caught up in defense.[3]
    • As the second player, it's going to be tough for you to build much of an offense. But you still have a chance if the first player misses that key first move or makes some other mistake.
    • If you're having trouble building up much of an offense, you could also try distracting your opponent or making comments to try to get in their head and get them flustered so they make a mistake.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Reading Your Opponent

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  1. Step 1 Anticipate your opponent's reaction to any potential move. 1 Anticipate your opponent's reaction to any potential move. When you're contemplating where to put your checker, look at your opponent's checkers. If you put your checker where you're thinking, what will they do? How will that affect your options for your next move?[4]
    • Because Connect 4 requires this sort of thinking, it helps build your strategy skills for more complicated games, such as chess.
    • This is one of the things that makes this a great game to play with little kids. If you're older and want to help them, talk them through their moves or ask them questions, such as, "What do you think I'm going to do if you put your checker there?"
  2. Step 2 Figure out your opponent's options after every move they make. 2 Figure out your opponent's options after every move they make. Why did your opponent put their checker where they did? Were they blocking you or working on an offensive strategy? How does their move potentially help them? Asking these questions helps you get into your opponent's mind and understand their strategy.[5]
    • For example, you might place your checker in the center column as the first move. Then, your opponent drops their checker directly on top of yours. This means they're trying to get as many checkers in the center column as possible.
    • It also helps to put yourself in your opponent's position. If their checkers were yours, what would your strategy be? What would you do to win the game?
  3. Step 3 Force your opponent to respond to 3-checker threats to take momentum. 3 Force your opponent to respond to 3-checker threats to take momentum. Any Connect 4 strategy requires multiple moves to build. Try to get 3 checkers in a row anywhere—even if they're not building up to anything else. They'll have to block you immediately, which will pull them out of offense mode. Then you have the opportunity to strike.[6]
    • For example, you might drop a checker next to 2 you've already got to put 3 in a row horizontally. If it's cut off on one side, it's easy for your opponent to block you—but having to do that takes them away from their offensive strategy for at least one move.
  4. Step 4 Block your opponent's checkers when they have 2 in a row. 4 Block your opponent's checkers when they have 2 in a row. Putting one of your checkers next to your opponent's series of 2 means now they can only make a series of 4 in one direction. If you cut them off, they can't get 3 in a row and potentially trap you.[7]
    • For example, if your opponent has 2 checkers lined up on the bottom row, go ahead and drop a checker on either end to close off at least one of their opportunities to build a threat. Then, if they put a third checker on the other side, you can easily block it.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Building Traps

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  1. Step 1 Try to get 3 checkers in a row with open spaces on either end. 1 Try to get 3 checkers in a row with open spaces on either end. This is pretty hard to do if you're playing against a good player. But if you can pull it off, you've won the game! Controlling the center column is really important for building these kinds of opportunities.[8]
    • For example, if you drop a checker down one of the end columns, you're cutting off any opportunity to use this strategy. This is the main reason the end columns are the worst places to drop your checkers.
  2. Step 2 Force your opponent to put a checker under a game-winning space. 2 Force your opponent to put a checker under a game-winning space. As your game progresses, be on the lookout for a spot where both you and your opponent have a 3-checker line ending up at the same space. Whoever puts a checker in that space wins the game, which means you don't want to put a checker directly under it. But if you build up another threat that uses the space directly under the game-winning space, your opponent has no choice but to block you.[9]
    • For example, you might build up a diagonal 3 that would use the space under the game-winning space to give you 4 in a row. Diagonals are great because they're really versatile and not as easy to see as horizontals or verticals.
  3. Step 3 Create a "7" with your checkers for an unbeatable Connect 4 strategy. 3 Create a "7" with your checkers for an unbeatable Connect 4 strategy. This is a strategy that you have to play out over multiple moves—while also watching your opponent's moves and blocking them where you need to. It's not at all easy to get this in place, but once you do, you've essentially won.[10]
    • So, for example, you might have 3 checkers going up in a diagonal, and then at the top of the diagonal, you have 3 checkers horizontally. That gives you a diagonal and horizontal threat.
    • With a 7 anywhere on the board (and turned in any direction), it's only a matter of time before your opponent is trapped in a situation where you have two game-winning spaces and they can only block one of them.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can you win Connect 4 diagonally? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer You can win Connect Four by connecting all four of your colored checkers in a diagonal line. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 80 Helpful 62
  • Question Can a Connect 4 game end in a tie? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Yes, it is possible for a game of Connect 4 to end in a tie. This will occur where neither player has been able to connect four checkers in a row and the whole Connect 4 board is full. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 37 Helpful 59
  • Question How do you win 4 in a row? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer To win 4 in a row, you need to match four of your disks in a connected line, which can be either horizontal, vertical or diagonal. There are various strategies to win 4 in a row, the steps above explain some of the best ones to try. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 53 Helpful 35
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Video

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Tips

  • Take your time when placing tokens! You have complete, open information on the board. If you do make a mistake, don't verbalize it, as your opponent might not realize the pattern you're seeing.[11] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  2. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  3. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.gamesver.com/14-benefits-of-playing-connect-4-for-kids/
  5. ↑ https://www.gamesver.com/14-benefits-of-playing-connect-4-for-kids/
  6. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  7. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  8. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
  9. ↑ https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/2010/connectFourSlides.pdf
More References (2)
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/lrHEgnLZSqw?t=20
  2. ↑ Ashton Wu. Board Game Expert. Expert Interview

About This Article

Ashton Wu Reviewed by: Ashton Wu Board Game Expert This article was reviewed by Ashton Wu and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 50K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate. This article has been viewed 1,642,384 times. 78 votes - 79% Co-authors: 43 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 1,642,384 Categories: Featured Articles | Board Games for Children Article SummaryX

To win at Connect 4, try to maintain control of the center of the board by planning multiple moves in advance. Pay close attention to your opponent's moves so you can block their attempts to make a Connect 4 and take advantage of any mistakes they make. Play offensively and try tactics like multi-directional attacks to gain control of the board and make a Connect 4! To learn how to make a "7 trap," read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Fabio Delagustavo

    Fabio Delagustavo

    Aug 10, 2016

    "I'm trying to beat a kid at a Connect 4 at a day camp that I'm volunteering with, and he's really..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ashton Wu Reviewed by: Ashton Wu Board Game Expert 78 votes - 79% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 43 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 1,642,384 Fabio Delagustavo

Fabio Delagustavo

Aug 10, 2016

"I'm trying to beat a kid at a Connect 4 at a day camp that I'm volunteering with, and he's really..." more Dylan J.

Dylan J.

Nov 20, 2020

"Thanks! I haven't heard of the 7 strategy before, and now can beat my brother every time!" Joe M.

Joe M.

Nov 28, 2023

"I needed to win against my sister and Iost, but it helped me to win my second round :)." Avante Townsend

Avante Townsend

May 22, 2017

"I beat the smartest person in the class. Thank you." Rated this article: Anonymous

Anonymous

Jun 26, 2017

"This strategy really works." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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