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

[@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]

😭😭😭

[@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

[@shubhidusad6930]

Everyone is here for revenge

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@fuckibra]

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

[@euphratessful]

this method only works when you playing vs. yourself

[@AlexSuperTramp.]

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

[@harbinger5352]

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

[@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 😄😄👍

[@laurencahn9192]

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

[@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

[@sedra7702]

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

[@McShroom]

You proud of yourself?

[@bruno_s_e]

i stopped thinking when he pulled math

[@baboon_baboon_baboon]

Most board and card games require math skill bud

[@i_am_king3296]

No one drops that many pieces in one Column like that

[@SMacCuUladh]

drop it like its hot!

[@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).

[@-Creepy._.Moon-]

Wait wait wait... THERES MATH!?

[@mattzmom1]

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

[@David-bh1rn]

Did you beat your son? In connect 4 I mean lol

[@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.

[@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

[@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!!

[@ybnramon9642]

Thanks helped a bunch!!👍

[@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"

[@yusufalkac7230]

i think this game is very underrated

[@flightsfeelings]

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

[@SezinSancaktar]

7 strategy really worked, thanks.

[@dimitriskontoleon6787]

The best strategy was to learn all optimal moves. We have it a very long time ago

[@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?

[@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!

[@zainabkurbanbaeva3379]

I learn so much today thank you so much

[@4th_wall511]

hopefully this scores me a few drinks

[@FAnizah_edits29]

should you be playing offense or defense in connect 4

[@TheMemeMonkeyXD]

both

[@Mektek19]

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

[@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?

[@derivefive]

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

[@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)

[@theseeker3771]

Killer analysis...thanks.

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

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

[@24magiccarrot]

Chuck Norris can win connect 4 in 3 moves.

[@AUserNobodyAskedFor]

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

[@isaiahamerica2245]

I’m here to get revenge on Becca 😈

[@nicholaszarb2504]

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

[@yellowmoss271]

What does that mean?

[@itsKaspar]

But what if opp places in the hole before all are filled?

[@elitaylor2934]

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

[@deltafirechimp]

I can't wait to play connect 4

[@eleazarjabalde5442]

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

[@ster.shorts]

What working as a summer camp counselor makes me watch

[@zenodarbock7167]

I’m watching this because we have a contest tomorrow

[@bb79]

I have 7 year old who keeps whooping me. Not anymore😊

[@ianfawknotson1800]

This is why I play with the pie rule

[@cameronthomas3398]

you got good mouse handwriting

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

u should bring this to vegas and make the mulah

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

then share with me and we can get matching sneakers

[@Shaggy576]

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

[@roaaali8009]

can you provide us with the implementation

[@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.

[@nanafritz7242]

Grover eats chocolate. ALL THE CHOCOLATE

[@_Ghostrider99]

First comment it hno likes

[@frsumrith]

Wow never thought of that

[@sundvisson]

what about bottom row nmr 1 for the odd player?

[@nanafritz7242]

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

[@nanafritz7242]

Don't let little Tammy eat all the coco beans

[@WeezerPieTheBaddie24]

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

[@damonanderson2904]

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

[@Babooshka47]

Unfortunately with perfect play, player nr1 will always win

[@dougsfan9984]

Thank you

[@timothyulrey4508]

Awesome. Ty

[@idries23]

thanks dude

[@ashlingmccarthy3458]

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

[@WIZARDFFOFFICIAL]

Everybody is here for revenge 😅

[@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]

My dream car is an Elmo van

[@kylegoggins5423]

This is why I stopped playing connect 4, too many sweats

[@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.

[@rlstine4982]

Me playing Connect 4 with girls in thai bars after watching that video: "you made me rich".

[@natanealyipchengjunhci2709]

this has been talked about. its called parity.

[@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!

[@BryanFuryous]

Cool channel, I subbed :)

[@KeithGalli]

Glad you like it! Thanks for the sub :)

[@skelli5189]

I'm here for revenge gang

[@nameshaillay2691]

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

[@fabianconty7329]

I beat my teacher with this lol😂

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Magnificent

[@Sesquipedalian3]

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

[@aryehshulman8557]

this is genius

[@Mrbykynjoku]

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

[@jesstheawfullyhideousmess4922]

It's midnight why am I watching this

[@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 🏡

[@luvdyl4n10]

I’m absolutely shit at connect four like literally

[@deltreseshabattawowowwwow6825]

Yes magician

[@MaximusOverdrivusSupremusVT]

*Laughs in already nigh impossible to beat at Connect 4*

[@HyDeph0]

thanks connect msn

[@leftfist3085]

does this barely work for anyone else?

[@thomasrayanthony4871]

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

[@hlo0o0o0le]

Amazing

[@thetwirl5842]

Perfection

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

BEST STRATEGY 4 ME: BOWLING. There r roses. Things go good. Wine. WE have. a SLUBMER party

[@KeithGalli]

Yeah that's a good strategy, I agree

[@mr.cheeseweenie6947]

Much wine!!!

[@dr.girthmuffin8584]

VERY STRATEGY!

[@dr.girthmuffin8584]

Picture this: we build a pillow fort out of memories and fall asleep with jusssssst enough room for Jesus between us