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One-dimensional Connect Four

One-dimensional Connect Four

I've been going back through my piles of stuff from the back of a cupboard personal archives, and found a sheet I had put together way back in the late nineties.

It was how to play a game of four-in-a-row (usually known as Connect 4), entirely in one dimension.  Two dimensional Connect Four is quite common, and many coffee tables have a set of three-dimensional four-in-a-row, and I have even seen a version of the game played in four dimensions, but the one-dimensional version seems to be totally absent from stores and the internet.

According to my scribbled notes to accompany the sheet, the original article was by Angus Lavery in Games and Puzzles magazine, in 1994.  It was created as about a quick game to play with loose counters, but I decided to make a coffee-table version that also automatically re-groups the counters for you.





(Unfortunately, I did not keep the original magazine page, so the above is all the information I have.  I have tried searching the internet for Mr Lavery, to no avail.  If you know Mr Lavery, or you are Mr Lavery, please get in touch so I can make sure he's OK with this Instructable.)
 
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Step 1Materials and tools

Materials and tools

The main material is 6mm plywood, along with woodglue, varnish, and two contrasting paint colours.

Tools were; Jigsaw, scroll saw, files, sander and rotary tool with sanding bits.

This is also the first time I have used a Spanish Windlass in an instructable...
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35 comments
Feb 22, 2012. 8:04 AMdragonsnbottlecaps says:
Hi, I just wanted to submit a link to my blog where I (loosely) followed your tutorial and built my version of a one dimensional connect 4:
http://dragonsnbottlecaps.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/how-to-make-and-play-a-one-dimensional-4-in-a-row-connect-4/
I'd love your opinion.
Nov 26, 2011. 11:36 AMKevin12345 says:
Would the game work with 3 or more players, each with a different colored piece?
Oct 19, 2011. 8:39 AMnsnip says:
Could this be played in a ring?
Sep 15, 2011. 7:55 PMlambsb says:
Very interesting. I like it. I may try to make one because I have a lot of luan pieces laying around....
Sep 5, 2011. 4:02 PMdkop1 says:
Great 'Ible, but I think it's more of a two dimensioned thing. Playing connect four with 1 dimension would be stacking lines.
Sep 7, 2011. 6:17 PMdkop1 says:
Considering that I have no counter-argument, I have to say you're right. BTW: Nice 'stache in the new picture.
Sep 7, 2011. 1:48 AMKryptonite says:
International entries and everything! :D
Sep 7, 2011. 1:19 PMsunshiine says:
Totally awesome! I loved that game! My kids loved it and my grandson loved it! Thanks for sharing! Nice work!
Sep 7, 2011. 1:38 PMsunshiine says:
You are welcome! Are the international entries good on this one? I am curious.
Sep 7, 2011. 2:36 PMsunshiine says:
Great thinker! I really do hope they find a solution! I was wondering why I have not seen your new stuff. Sending a MSG now, wonder how long it will take???? jUST CURIOUS.
Sep 7, 2011. 12:34 PMVerendusVir says:
Love it!! wish I knew how to make one in 4 dimensions now... :)
Sep 5, 2011. 6:41 PMLithium Rain says:
Awesome!
Sep 5, 2011. 12:38 PMtqwerty says:
This looks fun.
I believe you could also play this as a one player game, for records? Not absolutely certain on how that would turn out, though.
Sep 5, 2011. 2:09 PMkarossii says:
3 moves... I see couple of different ways to achieve it, but very similar. Don't believe it could be possible in 2.
Sep 5, 2011. 2:28 PMPKM says:
Playing it as a solitaire, I think you're right: a 3-move solution is easy, I don't see a 2-move. From my experience of this sort of puzzle it instinctively feels like there is no 2-move solution and that it shouldn't be too hard to prove.

I wonder if this is the sort of game like tic-tac-toe, where perfect players never lose so two perfect players always end up in a draw, or whether you can play a faultless opponent into a corner and force a win. Again, instinctively it "feels" simple enough that it seems making no mistakes would lead to never losing, but I can't be sure. Perhaps I'll write an AI to play the game :)
Sep 5, 2011. 1:54 PMJayefuu says:
Mind if I throw together a laser cuttable acrylic version?
Sep 5, 2011. 1:34 PMAndyGadget says:

Totally sick, K-man #;¬)
How long does a typical game take?  It strikes me as the sort of game which could go on for ages with two decent players.
I agree with you about the guards / goggles issue.  I do the same thing using a jigsaw or drill.  I find it virtually impossible to cut accurately with the guards in place.
Sep 5, 2011. 1:10 PMLil C says:
Thats sick how did you think of that
Sep 5, 2011. 12:55 PMChrysN says:
Cool, I've never seen it played in one-dimension, looks interesting.

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"Happiness is a shed full of power tools." If you need help around the site, or with a project, feel free to contact me.