Connect Four strategy guide

Be the first to connect four of your discs in a row: horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

The rules in brief

The grid has 7 columns and 6 rows. Red moves first.
Choose a column; your disc falls to the lowest empty space in it.
The first player to make a line of four in any direction wins.
If the grid fills with no line of four, the game is a draw. A draw does not clear a level.

Take the centre: The centre column is part of more possible fours than any other. Discs there do the most work.
Count landing heights: A threat only matters when a disc can land on it. Note which row each column will fill next.
Two threats at once: Set up two places where you would win. Your opponent can block only one.
Don't play under a threat: If your opponent wins by landing on a square, avoid filling the square directly beneath it.
Odd and even rows: As the first player, threats on odd rows (counting from the bottom) tend to work out for you late in the game; the second player wants even rows.