Controls

You play by dropping discs into columns. Tap the column where you want your disc to go, and it falls to the lowest empty slot. That is the only move you make, which keeps things fast.

The board's shape is what makes it interesting:

• Dropping a disc places it at the bottom of the chosen column, stacking on top of whatever is already there. You can't place a disc anywhere but the lowest open slot.
• A winning line is four of your discs in a row, going across, straight up, or along either diagonal. Diagonals are the ones players miss most often.

The game ends when someone connects four, or in a draw if the grid fills with no line.

Against the computer, the difficulty rises across eight levels, so the opponent goes from missing threats to setting traps you have to see coming.

Tips

• Play the center column early. The middle column takes part in the most possible four-in-a-rows, so controlling it gives you more ways to build a line and to block your opponent.
• Always check the diagonals. Vertical and horizontal threats are easy to spot, but diagonal lines sneak up on people. Scanning the diagonals each turn catches the threats you would otherwise miss.
• Watch what your disc sets up above it. Dropping a disc can hand your opponent the slot right on top. Before you play, make sure you are not building the platform for their winning move.
• Create a double threat. If you can make a move that threatens to connect four in two different places at once, your opponent can only block one, and you win with the other.
• Block their three-in-a-row at once. When your opponent has three discs lined up with an open end, you have to block that turn, because leaving it lets them complete the four.
• Think about odd and even rows. Advanced play uses the fact that threats on certain rows are harder to answer. Even just noticing which player is forced to fill a dangerous slot will win you close games.

Frequently asked questions