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After you select the type of two-player game, keyboard instructions for that game are displayed. To begin the game, press '''ENTER''' and the playing board appears.
===Playing Connect Four===
The playing board is the same for both a one-player game and a two-player game with one exception. In a one-player game, one box with player number 1 appears on the left side of the display. In a two-player game, boxes with player numbers 1 and 2 appear on either side of the display. The red box (Player 1) is on the left side and the blue box (Player 2) is on the right side. These colors correspond to the colors of the players' checkers. The box flashes to indicate which player goes next.
In a one-player game, the computer controls the blue player who alternates turns with you, the red player. In a two-player game, Player 1 uses red checkers and Player 2 uses blue checkers. Players alternate turns in dropping one checker down any of the seven slots. The computer decides whether Player 1 or Player 2 goes first, and then automatically alternates turns from one game to the next.
At the beginning of each turn, the computer positions the indicator arrow at the top of the fourth slot. Press the left- and right-arrow keys, ← and →, to move the arrow to the slot in which you want to drop the checker. Press '''ENTER''' and the checker drops down the slot, stopping at the last empty space of that slot. Turns alternate until one player's checkers form "four-in-a-row" - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. When this occurs, the display flashes the winning row of checkers and plays a tune.
If the computer wins in a one-player game, the game also flashes "I WIN." Occasionally, with well-matched players, the entire board is filled without a winner, resulting in a draw. Anytime during a game or selections, you can press '''SHIFT 2''' (@) to return to the demonstration game.
====Drop Out====
In addition to the basic rules previously described, the Drop Out version for two players offers another option. At your turn you may choose to drop out one of your bottom checkers instead of adding one at the top. To drop out a checker, press t to move the indicator arrow to the bottom of the playing board. Next, position this arrow by pressing the left- and right- arrow keys, ← and →. Place the arrow beneath the slot from which you want to drop out. You must position the arrow by one of your checkers or you get an error tone. Also, nothing happens until you reposition the arrow. After the arrow is positioned press '''ENTER''', and the remaining checkers move down to fill the emptied space. If you change your mind, press ↑ to return the arrow to the top before you press '''ENTER'''.
A win, four-in-a-row, may result from the repositioning of the checkers in that slot. Or, of course, a win may be formed by dropping in a checker as in the basic game. Sometimes a drop out results in "four-in-a-row" for both players. In this case the player who did not make the drop out wins. For example, if Player 1 drops out a checker and lines up four-in-a-row, but a four-in-a-row for Player 2 also results, Player 2 wins. The drop out option adds exciting possibilities to your strategy.
