Do diagonal lines count in Four in a Row?
Yes. Four of your discs in a line win whether the line runs across, up and down, or diagonally in either direction. Diagonal wins are the easiest ones to miss.
There are four directions a winning line can run:
- Across: four discs side by side in one row.
- Up and down: four discs stacked in one column.
- Diagonally up to the right.
- Diagonally up to the left.
The game checks all four directions after every drop and ends the moment a line is complete.
Watching the diagonals
Diagonal lines are hard to spot because each disc in them sits at a different height, so the square that completes one often needs other discs underneath it first. That also makes them useful: a diagonal threat high on the board can wait until your opponent is forced to fill the square below it. The strategy guide shows how.
Lines longer than four count too, see does five in a row win.
For practical play beyond this rule, read How to Win at Four in a Row.
Play Four in a Row free →Invite a friend or practice with the computer. No sign-up.