Classic Connect 4 with a PopOut bar: assemble, play and reset

How do you play four in a row? With the Classic Connect 4 PopOut-bar set, two players take turns dropping colored discs into an upright grid. The first player to line up four of their own color horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins. This guide covers assembling that version, playing a game, clearing the grid, and making early moves. It also points out the details to check in your own box before you pack the game for a trip or hand it to a younger player.

What this plan should accomplish

The goal is a game that is ready to play, with every part accounted for, a clear rule for who goes first, and a reset method that matches your hardware. This guide follows Hasbro's instruction sheet for the Classic Connect 4 configuration with a PopOut bar (sheet number 987790000, dated 2012). According to that sheet, the box contains a grid, two feet, 21 red discs, 21 gold discs and a label sheet. The game is for two players aged 6 and up, and an adult should do the assembly.

Limits that shape the plan

• Players: the game is designed for two. If more people want to play, plan a rotation, such as winner stays on or a short round-robin, rather than trying to fit extra players into one game.
• Age: the manufacturer rates the game for ages 6 and up. If a younger child is in the group, an adult should decide whether and how they join.
• Assembly: the sheet calls for adult assembly. Put the game together before handing it over, and ideally before you leave home rather than at the destination.
• Packing: a complete set is the grid, two feet and 42 discs (21 of each color). The discs are the parts most likely to go missing, so count them when you pack and again when you pack up afterward.
• Setting: the grid stands on its feet, so you need a flat, steady surface. Choose that spot before the first game.

Identify which version you have

Hasbro has sold more than one Classic Connect 4 configuration, and they reset in different ways. Check the hardware in your box before you rely on any instructions, including the ones in this guide.

Feature	PopOut-bar version (sheet 987790000)	Slider version (Hasbro A5640)
Base parts	Grid and two feet	Grid and two legs
Discs	21 red, 21 gold	21 red, 21 yellow
Release part	PopOut bar	Slider bar
Before play	Lower and lock the bar	Follow the A5640 instructions
To clear the grid	Flip the bar upward while it is in the PopOut position	Pull out the slider

If your set has gold discs and a bar that flips, follow the PopOut-bar steps below. If it has yellow discs and a slider that pulls out, use the slider reset. For anything else, follow the leaflet that came with your set.

Setup sequence

• 1. Match the release mechanism on your grid to the instructions you are using (see the comparison above).
• 2. Lay out and count the parts: grid, two feet, 21 red discs and 21 gold discs.
• 3. Apply the labels from the label sheet. If you bought the set used, the labels may already be on.
• 4. Attach the feet to the sides of the grid so it stands upright.
• 5. Lower the PopOut bar and lock it in place. If you skip this, the discs will not stay in the grid.
• 6. Give each player one color.
• 7. Decide who starts. A coin toss works, as does alternating the first move each game.

How a game plays

Players alternate turns. On each turn, you drop one disc into any slot along the top of the grid, and it falls to the lowest open space in that column. The first player to get four of their color in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.

Hasbro's own play advice is to block your opponent when they are close to four. Each turn, before you go for your own line, look for any column where your opponent could complete four on their next move. If you find one, put your disc there.

Resetting between games

To clear the grid on the PopOut-bar version, flip the bar upward while it is in the PopOut position. The discs drop out of the bottom. Before the next game, put the bar back and lock it. If you forget, the first discs of the next game will fall straight through. Collect and sort the discs by color so the next game can start quickly.

Thinking about the opening

Many players want to know the best opening move, but the manufacturer's material does not rank one. A more practical approach for beginners is to compare candidate moves directly. For each column you are considering, answer these questions before you drop the disc:

Candidate column	Does it create an immediate winning line for me?	Does it give my opponent an immediate winning reply?	Which horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines does it affect?
Central column
Outer column
Other option

Here is an illustrative way to use the worksheet. In an early position, sketch the grid twice: once with your disc in a central column and once with it in an outer column. Count how many possible lines of four each placement could become part of, and check whether either one gives your opponent a winning reply. Doing this over several games builds better judgment than memorizing a fixed opening. Always check the blocking question first.

Details to confirm before you rely on this plan

• Release mechanism: confirm that your grid has a flip-up PopOut bar and not a pull-out slider, because the reset step depends on it.
• Disc colors and count: the PopOut-bar sheet lists red and gold discs, 21 of each. A set with yellow discs is probably a different configuration.
• Printing date: the instructions here come from a 2012 sheet. Newer boxes may describe the parts or steps differently, so if the leaflet in your box disagrees, follow the leaflet.
• Completeness: if you are taking a secondhand set on a trip, check that both feet and all 42 discs are there.

Adjusting the plan when something changes

If your set turns out to have a slider, you can still follow the setup and play steps, but reset by pulling out the slider and check its own instructions for preparing it before a game. If some discs are missing, play only once both colors have equal counts, or find replacements before you travel. If more than two people want to play, keep each game to two players and rotate. If a child younger than the stated age wants to join, the supervising adult should make that call and handle all assembly and resetting.