Puzzle #54

Solution: drop in column 2

Counting columns from the left and rows from the bottom, this is the line if blue puts up the best fight. Every red drop makes a threat blue has to block, and the blocks walk blue into the final four. A weaker reply loses faster.

1. Red plays column 2, landing on row 4.
2. Blue plays column 1, landing on row 2. Forced: anything else and red wins on the spot.
3. Red plays column 5, landing on row 1.
4. Blue plays column 1, landing on row 3. Forced: anything else and red wins on the spot.
5. Red plays column 1, landing on row 4.
6. Blue plays column 4, landing on row 3. Forced: anything else and red wins on the spot.
7. Red plays column 5, landing on row 2. That threatens a four in column 3 (row 2) and column 5 (row 3) and column 7 (row 2): blue can only block one.
8. Blue plays column 4, landing on row 4. Forced: anything else and red wins on the spot.
9. Red plays column 3, landing on row 2. Four in a row.

Threat sequences like this are covered in our strategy guide. Practise them, easy to expert, in the puzzle sets.