Here's an interesting site with an extensive list of connect four programs.

Starting March 28--Spider Line 4
Spiders #9--Spider Line 4

John Tromp's website does not list a result for 8x8. I'm wondering, does anyone know who is supposed to win? 1st player, 2nd player, or draw? My guess is 2nd player, though I haven't studied 8x8 in much depth yet.

entr0py: Currently, all the sites I regularly play at use an 8x8 board, as BrainKing does. I have played other sizes in the past, including 7x6; see here for a list of sites offering connect four.

just curious, how many of you play regular connect four (7x6 board) ?

hexkid: I've never heard of this Pro Line4 being played anywhere. Incidentally, in that game you linked to, I note that Jason does have a diagonal four in a row in addition to the horizontal five in a row.

The rules for "Pro Line4" (all variants) are the same as the respective rule for the standard Line4 variant except that 5-in-a-row does not make a win.

If I and Jason were playing "Pro Linetris", this game wouldn't have already ended (and I might win it too).

Fencer: I think everyone read "between the lines" of the rules and thought that every full line disappears. I think it should be either specified in the rules (as BBW said) or it should be changed to reflect the thoughts of BuilderQ and myself. I'm not saying to go one way or the other (as a disinterested party) but I think leaving the ambiguity will just cause more problems in the future.

Fencer: Two lines can disappear after a move in a corner which completes two perpendicular rows, so I had thought the same applied to parallel rows. The way it is now, sides of the board can become "blocked" and the game's dynamic aspect is reduced. Still, BrainKing is the only site to have this game, so there is no precedent to contradict your method, and maybe I'm just annoyed at losing. :)

Still, have you ever played Tetris?

Fencer: I think that situation should be added to the rules.

I would think that if a "full" line moves into one of the edge rows, that it too should be removed. At least that is what I would think should happen.

BuilderQ: Because only one line can disappear after a move, not two.

BuilderQ: that's a very good question. I reread the rules and it should definitely disappear . . . very strange.

In this Spider Linetris game, why is the A column remaining full?

Do you like to play line games or want to learn? If you do, you should join the Official Lines Fellowship! We have line teams for almost every game as well as tourneys coming more and more! Sign up if you would like to join for teams, tourneys, lots of games, and the chance to better your game!

BuilderQ:

I was thinking that the Line4 players on this site weren't very active, but then I realized I was wrong when I noticed this epic series of games between Jeckelchen and jeckel. Their playing styles have become so refined that they know if they should resign by the second move! Wouldn't this site be more interesting if all players were as busy?

I need 3 more spider line 4 players please!

http://brainking.com/en/Tournaments?trg=13892&tri=87703&trnst=0

it's cool as this site. sorry for my new english!

BuilderQ: thanks :)

BuilderQ: I gave two wrong answers in a row . . . a reward for my laziness . . . LOL

Ah, I see Fencer has clarified that more than five win on the Hasami Shogi board.

ColonelCrockett: The rules for Pro Five in Line and Swap Five in Line explicitly note that exactly five must be placed in a row. Hasami Shogi may also follow this restriction, but the rules do not refer to such a situation.

BuilderQ: hmmm . . . I was too lazy to look (LOL) . . . I could have sworn that there was a game on BK that required a specific number of tokens be placed in a row, perhaps Hasami Shogi? I'm still too lazy to look, ;)

ColonelCrockett: According to the rules, no: "The object is to place 5 or more pieces in a solid row..."

BuilderQ: I think Pente requires exactly five in a row though, right?

Hrqls: Yes

does a player win when he places more than 4 pieces in a row ?

BuilderQ: ah i see ... nice

so its up to player 1 (white) to make sure that he wont create a 4 .... as he can see easily he is being mirrored he can play the game all by himself .. and force his opponent to follow his plans (or stop the mirroring)

Hrqls: Yes, but the mirror strategy can prove successful on occasion, even against the best: http://brainking.com/en/ArchivedGame?g=760289&i=52

white is player 1 .. player 2 is the only one who can use the mirror strategy .. but when doing that until the end he will lose as noone will make 4 .. so player 1 wins

this makes the mirror strategy a losing strategy

rod03801: If your offer hasn't been taken yet, go ahead and invite me.

BuilderQ: Thanks for that lol, yeh i didn't really know how to play when i played this one, i think it was my first game or one not long after i started playing it

So, the only way to counter this strategy is to fill up the board with no one winning, which is a win for white? (LOL, I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say)

Would someone be willing to play out a game of anti with me as black, using the mirror image strategy, and show me how you, as white, get out of it? It will make more sense to me if I am actually playing it out. Unrated/Uncounted, if you prefer.

rod03801: An example

rod03801: Aim for a (symmetric) position where there is no line of four on the complete board. Then white wins.

I recently played anti line 4 at another site, and my opponent played using the mirror-image strategy. (I was player 1). I know there MUST be away to get around that, otherwise player 2 would just always win using that strategy.. However, for some reason I spaced it, and had no idea how to counter it, and lost of course. Can someone please remind me how to counter that strategy in anti?

Nugsson: I'd spend more time posting on the stack4 board but I usually hang around the chess boards.

ColonelCrockett: I don't know, I tend to chat occasionally during my games. I don't think anybody uses the discussion boards at IYT. To be honest I'd forgotten they exist.

Nugsson: the stack4 board on IYT is just as dead usually, I guess us "line4" players just don't like to talk much . . .

ColonelCrockett: Two posts in 3 days! Busiest it's been here in months ;)
I'm one of those people who play both here and at IYT.

this board is just buzzing . . . incredibly busy . . . LOL

ColonelCrockett: welcome to BK I'm afraid I don't really know how many people play both sites.

I see alot of the same IDs from IYT. Are there many players who play stack4 on IYT and Line4 here?

nice to know which boards have and havent been solved to

BuilderQ: very nice!

(nice layout, simple and to the point without being boring ... well done :))

I haven't been able to find a truly comprehensive resource for connect four information, so I've decided to start work on my own.
http://fourinarow.50webs.com

that'd certainly make for another intersting game

"Each player receives 16 disks of his own colour and 5 white disks." You would be forced to use wild pieces if the game went on long enough.

BuilderQ: I just took a look, at first it looks like a great idea to add a third color, but if it's an option if a person uses the "wild" or not - I would never use it - I mean why would I want to place a piece that my opponenet can use also.

Anyone heard of CARAMBA 4?