Four in a Row — Strategy
VOG — Vinco Online Games
The middle column and why it matters
A row of four can pass through a cell horizontally, vertically and along two diagonals. Edge cells belong to few possible fours, central cells to many. The centre column d is crossed by the largest number of possible fours: every horizontal four on a 7×6 board has to touch column d.
Hence the first rule: take the centre. Opening in d1 is the strongest
start in classic; with perfect play it wins. An opening on the edge, on the
contrary, hands the opponent a tempo.
The second rule is to count not discs but live fours: how many fours are
still possible through your disc, as long as the opponent takes none of
their cells. A disc on d3 is usually more alive than a disc on a1, even
if neither leads anywhere yet.
The centre is not dogma. If a move in the centre fills the cell right under an opponent threat (see the topic on threats), play next to it instead. But other things being equal, choose a column closer to the middle.