Drop Four
Play Drop Four in your browser. Drop tokens to line up 4 in a row — vs AI or a friend!
How to play
- Click any column to drop your Red token — it falls to the lowest empty slot.
- Connect 4 of your tokens in a row: horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- Block your opponent's threats while building your own lines.
- Choose 'vs AI' to play the computer or '2 Player' for hotseat mode.
- Click Restart to clear the board and start a new game.
Click a column to drop your token (Red). Connect 4 in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to win. Choose vs AI or 2-Player hotseat.
How it works
Drop Four is a two-player connection game played on a 7-column, 6-row vertical grid. Players alternate dropping colored tokens into any column; tokens fall to the lowest empty row in that column due to gravity. The first player to form a line of four tokens — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — wins.
You can play against the computer AI or against a second player at the same device. The AI evaluates board positions several moves ahead, so it responds to threats and sets up its own winning lines.
Controlling the center columns (especially columns 3, 4, and 5) is critical because they participate in the most possible four-in-a-row lines. A key tactic is the double threat: set up a position where you can win by playing in either of two columns, forcing the opponent to let one through.
Avoid filling columns too early, as a full column removes a valuable option and can trap you into a forced loss.
Worked example
Setting up a double threat
- Drop your first token in column 4 (center).
- Drop a second token in column 3, creating a horizontal pair.
- Add a token to column 5 on the other side, so you need column 2 or column 6 to complete four.
- The opponent can only block one end — drop your token in the other to win.
Four tokens in a horizontal row, winning the game.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Neglecting the center columns in favor of the edges, reducing the number of winning line options available.
- Playing a token that unintentionally sets up a winning row for the opponent directly above it.
- Blocking the AI's horizontal threat while missing a diagonal threat building at the same time.
Key terms
- Gravity
- The mechanic that causes each token to fall to the lowest available row in its column.
- Double threat
- A position with two separate ways to complete four in a row, so the opponent cannot block both.
- Column trap
- Filling a column completely, which removes it as a playable option for both players.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the AI work?
- The AI scores each move by counting connected pieces and blocking your threats — simple but effective.
- Can I play with a friend?
- Yes! Click '2 Player' to switch to hotseat mode — you take turns on the same device.