Four in a Row
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Seven Common Four in a Row Mistakes

Want to be good at Connect 4? The fastest way is to stop losing games you should win. These are the mistakes we see most often.

A common Four in a Row mistake: missing the opponent's diagonal three and the one space that completes it
Mistake 1: missing a diagonal.
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  1. Missing a diagonal. Check both diagonals after every move.
  2. Only blocking, never building. Blocking keeps you alive; building threats wins.
  3. Playing under the opponent’s winning space. This hands them the game.
  4. Starting on the edge. Edge columns have the fewest winning lines.
  5. Stacking one column. Tall towers are easy to block and waste moves.
  6. Rushing. Most losses come from a fast move. Take a breath and look again.
  7. Ignoring the endgame. When the board is nearly full, count which spaces each player will be forced to fill. See Odd and Even Threats.

Practise avoiding them against the computer.

Keep reading

More in Four in a Row Strategy: How to Win at Four in a Row · Best Opening Moves in Four in a Row · Four in a Row Cheats and Tricks · Seven Common Four in a Row Mistakes · How to Beat the Computer at Four in a Row · Odd and Even Threats in Four in a Row

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