Four-in-a-row Game Instructions:

This is a version of the classic four-in-a-row game (also known as Connect Four, connect 4, four-in-a-line and plot four).

When you start the game by clicking on the "GO" button, you will see a grid of 6 rows by 8 columns. This is slightly larger than the traditional grid of 6 rows by 7 columns but we always like to be slightly different! The computer will also pick randomly whether it will start or you will start and you will be told in a message at the start of the game. From then on, you will take turns to start so if the computer starts for the first game then you will start next time.

You take turns to drop a counter into the board. You do this by moving the mouse over the column you want to drop into and then clicking the left mouse button to drop. You can be in any row and an arrow at the top of the board will show you which column you are going to drop into before the mouse button is clicked. You also always play as red.

In order to win, you need to get four of your red counters in a row. They can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Of course, if the computer gets four in a row, then you will lose! The number of games that you have won and lost will be shown at the start of each game. If you want to clear this back to zero, then click on the "clear" button at the top-right. You can do this any time but if your are playing a game at the time then it will not be finished.

Good playing, but be warned - the computer is difficult to beat and it will not let you win too easily!