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The game is played on a vertical 7-column, 6-row grid (7x6). The board starts empty. Each player has 21 discs of their color. Red typically moves first.

Create four consecutive discs of your color in any direction. The game is a draw if the board fills without either player achieving four in a row.

On your turn, drop one disc into any column that isn't full. The disc falls to the lowest empty space in that column. Players alternate turns.

Control the center column - it's part of the most winning combinations. Build threats in the lower rows first; upper threats are useless until lower rows fill. Create 'dual threats' where you can win in multiple ways on your next turn.

Connect Four was first published by Milton Bradley in 1974. It has been mathematically solved - with perfect play, the first player can always win by starting in the center column.