Four In A Row Connection Game

Rules of Four in a row

Players receives a small amount of discs in blue or red color.
The game is played with a seven-column and six-row grid, which is arranged upright. Alternately each player puts a disc in one row. The disc falls down straight and will only be stopped by another piece. The aim is to be the first of the two players to connect four discs of the same color vertically, horizontally or diagonally. If each cell of the grid is filled and no player has already connected four discs, the game ends drawn, so no player wins.

Strategy to win 4 in a row

One strategy to win this game is to prepare two chances to connect four discs at once, therefore setting up a double bind. This will consequently lead to the victory, since the player can only avoid one of the two chances.

A perfect solution for a Connect4 game with 7 rows is already mathematically proven. Assuming a perfect play and best defense by both players the beginning player will always win by starting with the middle row. The decision to start at any other row will ultimately lead to a draw, if both players play perfect. Therefore it is also possible to play the game with 8 rows, a modus which is not solved mathematically yet.