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Frosted Board

Puzzle #21: Four in a Row

  • DifficultyMedium
  • To moveLight
  • TaskWin in 3
  • Main line5 half-moves

Light to move after 13 discs, with 0 columns already full.

Connect four within 3 of your own moves. Exactly one column starts the win; any other lets the opponent off.

What the position is about

  • block first — The opponent has a threat of their own, and the winning plan has to deal with it on the way.
  • forcing sequence — The solution is a series of threats, each one leaving the defence a single answer.
  • vertical four — The winning line runs straight up a column.

Finding the way in

Three-move wins usually start with a forcing move: a threat the opponent has to block, after which your next disc makes a double threat.

Play the position in your head from the opponent's side: what would you do against your favourite move? If there is a good answer, try the next candidate.

Show the first move

Start with c4. Played out against the stiffest resistance, the whole line goes: c4 f1 b3 d4 b4.

Solve it and the next puzzle of the same game is one tap away. Your solved puzzles are ticked in the list, in this browser only.