The Best Strategy to Win at Connect 4! (Odd Even Strategy)

An overview of what I consider the best connect 4 strategy. It works by strategically positioning yourself to win on an odd row if you are the first player to make a move and an even row if you are the second player to go.
If you have questions on this video, feel free to leave me a comment!
Good luck beating all your friends in connect 4! :)
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[@Escorpio123PS]

I love this video. You're the best. And explained and taught me more about this awesome game. Keep them coming please. I'm subscribing. You should record while playing with online players.

[@KeithGalli]

Thanks for the positive feedback! My current plan is to release a couple programming videos next, but after that I have a couple ideas for new connect 4 videos and can make one of them playing against online players!

[@Escorpio123PS]

Keith Galli awesome. Thank for the communication. I'll wait patiently 🙏👍.

[@anthonydargan1459]

Yellow would’ve lost on the 2nd example if read went on column 3 after yellow took 2nd row

[@anthonydargan1459]

Red could just go up the first column and secure the 3rd column with either a diagonal or across

[@anthonydargan1459]

At 3:40 if red went up the 1st row he would’ve won with the 3rd row on the 2nd column

[@dobeeeeval]

My 8 year old nephew won't know what hit him.

[@kaliented]

@@miguelsanchezramirez1987 lol no fuck off

[@craigeillison9650]

8 years old? Way to old for this game.

[@Kapa_sound]

@@craigeillison9650 😆🤣😂. My 9 year old too

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

That’s my problem my damn grandson kicks my butt every time he comes over to my house. And then he brags that’s what makes me the maddest. Lol

[@kingnats9246]

😭😭😭

[@shubhidusad6930]

Everyone is here for revenge Edit:this is the most like I have ever got

[@orage-zi3kp]

Exactly

[@RF-INF]

Power... i need more power

[@themomathondiaries6689]

Yessss yessss😖😖😖😖😖😖

[@user-AAA-]

Fr bro 😂

[@Ghostlycatduck]

This one kid in my class wins all the time

[@subscriberswithvideos-up2wl]

I just sneak 2 in while my opponent isn’t looking

[@laurasanchez7105]

Lol

[@memefunnyhaha8445]

Stealth 100 Press Y to make it Legendary

[@nevergonnagiveyouup3352]

Iq 1000

[@generallukeproductions]

Is it not too loud to do that lol

[@theason8026]

Is it bad that I'm so competitive that I looked up a strategy that I'm going to twist and find my own way

[@dudeguy8864]

Always play to win

[@jaytex4206]

@Si0NE omg bro u actually pranked me

[@lokoamoanero2828]

@Si0NE lmao i thought that was show more

[@pocahantasmillian]

Lmaooo that’s exactly why I’m here😂

[@menaceclan]

Just came here for THE SAME THING .. So you NOT BAD.. or we both are lol ..

[@lukefarry2142]

Dude, thank you. My friend group has gotten silly competitive about connect 4 lately and I couldn't figure out why my traps weren't working properly

[@billgeltzeiler5929]

damn keith i LOVE this strategy, thank you for the video. i actually came upon this theory all by myself and kept testing it, i called it a "3rd/5th story victory" for an odd player or a "2nd/4th/6th story victory" for an even player lol, but could not find a lot of info on it. really kicked my gameplay to the next level, if often does come down to that final column and people are amazed how often i pull it off in that case ;)

[@KeithGalli]

Bill Geltzeiler yea it is a great strategy! It seems like magic to people who don't know it :)

[@billgeltzeiler5929]

how did you come upon it?

[@scribbletv8061]

I actually learned this opening by playing against connect 4 hard ai on a website and the ai always used opening similar to this

[@mikeyt6719]

Can you please make a very detailed guided connect four marathon... basically explaining exactly why you are making each move.

[@brentithecutiejkidk6116]

no

[@saganmcvander636]

I was studying a minmax of this game by myself and even playing with 3 and 4 players on custom sized boards before figuring out on my own the hard way about how the height of the board divided by the number of players effects the game. I see this video and agree that nobody else has solving this game in this way.

[@AlexSuperTramp.]

I love it. My family went crazy when they played against me :D

[@robinravel8561]

That was amazing. I've been playing this game a lot. I enjoy playing it, since I was 5 years old. Never thought of that ! You have all my respect, thanks a lot. Very interesting, I loved your video 😄😄👍

[@harbinger5352]

Gotta keep the grind on. Never lose and never surrender.

[@joelt3944]

I just go on the defensive and always find myself in a good winning position

[@Intellectual_House]

Not for me i always lose at the end 😔

[@cameronwhittemore7437]

It always becomes a stailmate and I always lose it

[@bubbahottep8644]

Thank goodness.

[@RhinoHand]

I always attack as much as I can then go on the defensive until one of my diagonals win

[@bubbahottep8644]

@@RhinoHand I have a different strategy, one that is guaranteed to win. It is a twin to my, "But high, sell low," financial plan. I just wish it was guaranteed a win for _me_, instead of homeboy, my opponent.

[@kellybagabaddie1203]

I REALLY NEED HELP BECAUSE MY TEACHER SAID WE ARE GETTING HAVE A CONNECT 4 CONTEST AND THE LAST ONE REMAINS GETS A PRIZEEEE

[@paigemerrick3753]

Hope you won! :)

[@bendeguzbagosi2385]

Yes how did it go

[@MasterBronzeElite]

Ok who won. Spill the beans

[@moupow7056]

To be the best, think forwards after your move and think the possible tactics available for you and for yourself

[@a.b_s9501]

To be the best you must sit quietly and observe everyone in the room

[@bruno_s_e]

i stopped thinking when he pulled math

[@baboon_baboon_baboon]

Most board and card games require math skill bud

[@sedra7702]

The fact that I was doing this subconsciously before realizing it was an actual strategy

[@McShroom]

You proud of yourself?

[@euphratessful]

this method only works when you playing vs. yourself

[@ybnramon9642]

Thanks helped a bunch!!👍

[@laurencahn9192]

Can't one of the players foil the strategy by placing a piece in the column you're trying to keep empty?

[@mattzmom1]

Thanks for the tip. I’m trying to win against my 11 yr old son🤪

[@joshnorko5586]

Second player cannot win even with your strategy. Player one will always win, granted you have all the pieces and nobody knocked it over lol. Great vid man

[@abcrm101]

As the even player, go for 2 5 (and the odd player should go for 3 6) Then you are going to win even if you are blocked at row 2 But the even player if going to win nonetheless P.S. odd columns are underrated, finally someone is talking about it

[@i_am_king3296]

No one drops that many pieces in one Column like that

[@SMacCuUladh]

drop it like its hot!

[@jackietaylor3188]

I’ve done that and then by the fourth move I’m blown out of the water cause I haven’t blocked it properly. So frustrating.

[@SezinSancaktar]

7 strategy really worked, thanks.

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Hi there it’s me Deltrese. I love watching your channel.

[@lefc7527]

I am often encountering a problem with this strategy. Let's say I am player1 and I can get 4 at the 3rd row of a column. So we fill the rest of the board but at some point before that my opponent plays at the 1st row of that winning column, so when we fill the rest of board, I then find myself forced to play at the 2nd row of my winning column, so he then plays at the 3rd and neutralize my position. How can this be avoided? Does this mean that player2 can always just play at the first row somewhere and then is able to cancel all odd winning positions of player1?

[@karelspinka3031]

This shouldn't be possible unless another column on the board is closed. When you create (as the 1st player) a triple on an odd row, the parity of the other winning columns changes. If you manage to create an even threat on another column, you win faster in the endgame. On the other hand, if your opponent manages to create an even threat (after you made yours), both threats will be cancelled in the endgame and the game will likely end in a draw (unless other threats are present).

[@flightsfeelings]

this is definitely helpful end of game strategy but there’s a better strategy to make this more likely in your favor

[@daiquirianonymous]

What about cases where there are two columns with spots that would win, i.e: Even has a win in row 4 in one column, and odd has a win in row 5 in another column. Even has a win in row 4 and 2 in one column, and odd has a win in row 3 in another column. Are there any general rules to calculate these cases efficiently or do you just have to work out each case by itself?

[@solidwaterslayer]

i took a class on connect 4. I'm so tired of beating all my friends and all the computers. finally a worthy opponent. this battle will be legendary!!

[@zainabkurbanbaeva3379]

I learn so much today thank you so much

[@arnswkm]

What l do is put the first chip in the middle, and then, the second chip in the left or the right and then, the third chip in the center of the both left or the right, Finally, if they go left or the right l trapped them both side?

[@arnswkm]

Yes that’s right?

[@theseeker3771]

Killer analysis...thanks.

[@shoarmapapa476]

Another tip, try to make a 7 shape Like this: 0 0 0 0 0 In this way you will always have two rows of three stacked on each other.

[@rejecht_3042]

I call it the "7th trap"

[@chessandmusicwithoskiez6241]

Anyone else who figured this strategy out on their own and checked if it had already been made somewhere? (The thing about double connect 3’s at the end I sorta forgot about)

[@derivefive]

I MUST EXACT REVENGE ON MY BROTHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS TUTORIAL... VWHEHEHHEHEHEhehehehe....

[@brendatoscano9847]

I don't understand at all because i don't speak english very well but i think it's a great video and also you have a nice voice. I'll try to understand a little bit more. Are you saying that with a little of math you can win? Do you now how does it works with real people or its the same?

[@rayanwaseem5530]

thank you so much you explained good i won from a robot first i thugot your trick will not work but it did work wow

[@KeithGalli]

Nice!

[@Mektek19]

Makes sense but what are the odds of one column being completely empty by the 37th move.

[@FAnizah_edits29]

should you be playing offense or defense in connect 4

[@TheMemeMonkeyXD]

both

[@yusufalkac7230]

i think this game is very underrated

[@frsumrith]

Wow never thought of that

[@dougsfan9984]

Thank you

[@timothyulrey4508]

Awesome. Ty

[@4th_wall511]

hopefully this scores me a few drinks

[@deltafirechimp]

I can't wait to play connect 4

[@-Creepy._.Moon-]

Wait wait wait... THERES MATH!?

[@isaiahamerica2245]

I’m here to get revenge on Becca 😈

[@idries23]

thanks dude

[@Professional-Idi0t]

Wow! I'm the best guy I know and know of, I beat you also, and I AS IN ME didn't know this! This really opens up a lot. Thank you!

[@KeithGalli]

Damn I already had enough trouble playing you before, now I'm really scared xD haha

[@Professional-Idi0t]

I would play you again now, but I gotta practice first with this strategy. Hope to play you another time!

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Yes magician

[@AUserNobodyAskedFor]

but what if the enemy doesn't fall for the trick

[@nicholaszarb2504]

Re last example: player 1 must introduce asymmetry into the game in order to win

[@yellowmoss271]

What does that mean?

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Magnificent

[@tomhinds14]

Why would there be an empty column?

[@KeithGalli]

There's usually one column someone will avoid dropping pieces in because if they did it would guarantee the opposing player a win. With this strategy we are setting this up to be in our favor.

[@roaaali8009]

can you provide us with the implementation

[@sundvisson]

what about bottom row nmr 1 for the odd player?

[@HyDeph0]

thanks connect msn

[@elitaylor2934]

If red moved first that means he was odd. How did was he only able to move on two evens both ways

[@rafaelo_taekook4571]

Loved

[@cameronthomas3398]

you got good mouse handwriting

[@Babooshka47]

Unfortunately with perfect play, player nr1 will always win

[@SPZ909]

ty

[@InfiniteUniverse88]

I wonder what's the shortest computer program than has this concept. 1. Control the center. 2. Whoever has the lower key node wins. A key node being defined as a move that wins on the spot as soon as the opponent plays below it. There might be a way to further reduce the size of the center problem. Generally, I prefer horizontal lines over diagonal. The lower the better. The logic being, go for the lines that can be obtained first. The lower the key node, the better.

[@danmcgoogleaccount6954]

"whoever has the lowest key node wins" isn't true though. For instance, if the second player has a key node on row 3 and the first player has a key node on row 5 the first player has the win, since the node on row 3 is useless to the second player. It isn't even true if we restrict key nodes to odd rows for the first player and even for the second player. For instance, if the second player has a key node on row 2 and the first player has a key node on row 5 of a different column, the first player still has the win. It's only true when we consider compare key nodes (of relevant parity) in the same column, with all other columns filled.

[@24magiccarrot]

Chuck Norris can win connect 4 in 3 moves.

[@hlo0o0o0le]

Amazing

[@thetwirl5842]

Perfection

[@eleazarjabalde5442]

Nobody beats me with this game..i dont think you can also beat me sir.😊

[@BryanFuryous]

Cool channel, I subbed :)

[@KeithGalli]

Glad you like it! Thanks for the sub :)

[@naitawar6500]

thanks.

[@ianfawknotson1800]

This is why I play with the pie rule

[@aryehshulman8557]

this is genius

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

u should bring this to vegas and make the mulah

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

then share with me and we can get matching sneakers

[@Mrbykynjoku]

My 8 years old nephew about to get barbecued! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@beloved-child]

4:20 wtf? 37th move is ODD, WHITE, NOT EVEN, RED

[@nanafritz7242]

I'M going to Montana in the Elmo van with the 2 boxes of cookies

[@quintuplify05]

2:43 even

[@nanafritz7242]

Grover eats chocolate. ALL THE CHOCOLATE

[@_Ghostrider99]

First comment it hno likes

[@zenodarbock7167]

I’m watching this because we have a contest tomorrow

[@ster.shorts]

What working as a summer camp counselor makes me watch

[@N-Nasseb]

Ty

[@ashlingmccarthy3458]

muahaha i already figured this strategy out. The problem is my games rarey last this long

[@leftfist3085]

does this barely work for anyone else?

[@kssppowj5316]

Thx

[@WIZARDFFOFFICIAL]

Everybody is here for revenge 😅

[@nanafritz7242]

Don't let little Tammy eat all the coco beans

[@Platypus_King24]

I’ve never beat my dad before. Today’s the day

[@DynestiGTI]

Would you say the game is fair for the person starting 1st or 2nd or is there some advantage?

[@KeithGalli]

Interesting question. So if someone was a perfect player they could always win if they started 1st (see the Numberphile video on connect 4 for more information on this). In practice, however, we are generally far from perfect and I personally think it is easier to win as the 2nd player to move. I think it is easier to set up wins on the 2nd and 4th rows as opposed to the 3rd and 5th rows.

[@anthonydargan1459]

Keith Galli player 1 has advantage

[@KeithGalli]

Anthony Dargan yea I mentioned in my reply that the 1st player has the technical advantage, I just personally think it's easier winning as the 2nd player based on the average skill of competition

[@aajjeee]

Keith Galli i tought you could always force a tie at least

[@anthonydargan1459]

Barnesrino Kripperino I can show y’all how to win as first just about every time lol

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Shamisha

[@Shaggy576]

The difference is you are playing against your self like people are going to actually on do that

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

I need help that’s for sure my grandkids kick my you know what every night with the stinking game. The funny thing is it takes me forever to make a move and as soon as I drop my piece he drops his. Apparently he’s watching your videos I just started watching them. I’m going to beat this kid yet. He thinks he’s the champ at grandpa’s house 🏡

[@abdullahhassen7597]

Great video, cant wait to smoke the other eight olds

[@craigeillison9650]

This is an awful game once you realise that every winning line of 4 contains one of the cells in the centre column. I wrote a computer programme to play this and changed it to 8x8 as 7-wide is rubbish.

[@thatonepersonwhoeatscheese7348]

no, you can have 4 going straight up

[@Calcx755]

Correct, there is a better strategy than the one shown in the video, and it’s simply just taking up as many spots in the middle as possible.

[@Sbanger58]

Keith Galli ... Great Vid my friend. Dang!!! You're a Genius!!! Thanks for sharing ... LOL!!! If a World Championship for this game was held. I think you'd have a good chance to take it all.

[@thomasrayanthony4871]

Such a great video! Awesome. Wanna play a game of virtual parcheesi? What’s your username?

[@nameshaillay2691]

Commenting helps content creators rise in the algorithm. that is all

[@damonanderson2904]

I’m totally going to win against my uncle 🎉😊

[@neokorteks2009]

4 in a line

[@Sesquipedalian3]

I've done this against my mom without watching the video

[@luvdyl4n10]

I’m absolutely shit at connect four like literally