Char Line is the four-in-a-row game many of us know as Connect Four. You drop a goti into a column, it falls to the lowest empty spot, and the first to get four in a line wins. A game takes two or three minutes, which makes it perfect for a big group: the winner stays, the next person sits down, and the whole room shouts "rok, rok, rok!" on voice.
Here are the rules as Mandli plays them, a few tips, and how to play four in a row online with friends.
Kya chahiye: Just phones. Tap a column and the goti drops.
Rules: kaise khelte hain
The board
A standing board with 7 columns and 6 rows, 42 spots in all. One player is Laal and the other is Peela. Laal drops first, and in Mandli the challenger plays Laal.
Your turn
Tap any column that isn't full. Your goti falls to the lowest empty spot in that column. You can't place a goti in the air or choose the row.
Winning
The first player with four of their gotis in a line wins. The line can go across, down or diagonally in either direction.
Draw
If all 42 spots fill up with no line of four, the game is a draw.
15 seconds a turn
Each drop has 15 seconds. If you run out of time, the app drops for you: in a column that wins if there is one, else one that blocks your opponent's win, else anywhere. Three timeouts in a row in one game and you lose it.
Points kaise milte hain
A win is worth 12 points, plus 3 more if you win within 10 of your own drops (Jhatpat). A draw gives 5 each and a loss gives 1. With the host's Best of 3 option on, each game still scores on its own; the series only decides who stays at the board. Points carry across games in the same room.
Jeetne ke tips
- The middle column is part of the most possible lines. Start there.
- Always check if your opponent has three in a line with an open spot before you drop anything else.
- Try to build two threats at once. Your opponent can block only one.
- Watch the spot right above a threat. Dropping under it can hand your opponent the win.
- Short games mean lots of rematches. Watch how the champion opens and learn from it while you wait.
Ghar wale rules aur variants
Some people play on bigger boards, or need five in a row. Mandli uses the classic 7 by 6 board and four in a row.
In one popular variant you may pull out one of your own gotis from the bottom row instead of dropping. Mandli doesn't have this.
Char Line online kaise khelein
Make a room in Mandli, share the link on WhatsApp or show the QR code, and pick Char Line. Friends without the app join from the browser link. Two play while everyone else in the room watches the same board and even sees the column the player is hovering over, so the room can shout advice. After each game the winner stays and the next person in the queue sits down. After 3 wins in a row the champion takes a break so everyone gets a turn, unless the host switches that off. The host can also turn on Best of 3 for each pairing, or Chup-chaap dekho to mute watchers during play. A room of up to 50 people can take turns at the board.
Sawaal jawaab
What are the rules of four in a row?
Players take turns dropping one goti into a column of a 7 by 6 board. It falls to the lowest empty spot. The first to line up four across, down or diagonally wins.
Who goes first in four in a row?
In Mandli Laal drops first, and the challenger always plays Laal.
What happens if the board fills up?
If all 42 spots are filled with no line of four, the game is a draw and each player gets 5 points.
What is the best first move in four in a row?
The middle column. It is part of more possible lines than any other column.
Can I play four in a row online with friends for free?
Yes. Mandli is free, has no ads and needs no login. Share the room link on WhatsApp and play Char Line with voice chat inside the game.