Question 1

Who goes first?

Accepted Answer

Player 1 in the first game, and then the first move swaps from game to game: against the bot, on one device and in an online room.

Question 2

Why can't I drop a chip in a column?

Accepted Answer

Either it isn't your turn, or the column already holds six chips. A full column shows no arrow above it.

Question 3

Do diagonals count?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both ways: a line climbing to the right and a line climbing to the left. Four across and four straight down count too. Five or more in a line still wins.

Question 4

How good is the bot?

Accepted Answer

Easy plays at random, but takes a win when it has one and blocks yours when it sees one. Medium looks four moves ahead and likes the middle of the board. Hard looks as far ahead as it can in about two thirds of a second, usually ten moves or more, and plans double threats. It is strong, but it is not a perfect player and it can be beaten.

Question 5

How do I play with a friend?

Accepted Answer

Choose Online room, create a room and send the five-character code or the link. No account is needed. Each of you picks a chip, and the host starts once both players are in. Rooms are deleted 24 hours after the last activity.

Question 6

What happens if someone leaves?

Accepted Answer

Leaving a game in progress ends it, and the player who stayed wins. A player whose connection drops shows as away and has five minutes to come back before that happens. If the host leaves, the other player becomes the host.

Question 7

Can we play on one device?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Local 2-player uses the same board and rules: drop your chip, then pass the device.

Question 8

What if I can't tell the two colors apart?

Accepted Answer

You don't need to. Every chip has a symbol stamped on it as well as a color (a ring, a star, a diamond, a triangle, a square or a cross), and no two players can pick the same chip, so the symbol alone tells you whose it is.

Question 9

Is my record saved?

Accepted Answer

Your wins, losses and draws against each bot and in online games are counted in your browser's localStorage, along with how local games on that device went. They stay on your device. If you're logged in to a Detour account, your bot and online records are saved to your account too, and follow you to any device you log in on.