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Zero Gravity Connect Four

Lesson Plans > Mathematics > Problem Solving > Strategy Games
 

Zero Gravity Connect Four

The name of this game is not technically accurate; it's not that there is zero gravity (null-g), but that the gravity is so confused it would make a physicist's hair stand on end. This two player spin-off of the original Connect Four game requires players to consider many more options, as each player can drop pieces from any of four directions. As with Connect Four, the winner is the one who can get four markers in a row.

The game can be played using a piece of graph paper, as shown below. The blue squares are 'solid', which means that markers cannot be dropped through them.
 



The next image shows the board after each player has taken one turn. Note that 'O' has dropped a piece from the left hand side of the board, and it 'fell' until it reached the right hand side. 'X' then dropped a piece from the top, and it 'fell'until it reached one of the solid squares.
 



In the next set of moves, 'O' dropped a piece from the bottom, and it 'fell' to the top. 'X' then dropped a piece from the right, and it 'fell' until it hit the 'O'
 


The game continues in this fashion until one player is able to line up four markers in a row; either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Another variation on this game involves putting the solid squares in different positions, or adding more than four solid squares to the board. Players should agree beforehand on the positioning of the solid squares, or take turns adding them to the board. Here's an example of a Null-G Connect Four board with the solid squares in different positions.
 



Note that this game can now be played online here: Zero Gravity.

Lesson by Mr. Twitchell

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