There is a way to always win at Connect Four if you start first!
If you've ever been frustrated by a game of Connect Four, you'll probably be even more frustrated to find out that it is a "solved game." This means that the outcome of the game can be correctly predicted if both players play perfectly.
It was first solved in October 1988 by James D. Allen and later that same month, independently, by Victor Allis. They figured out that the first player, if they make the right move, can always force the win.
Other solved games include Chopsticks, Checkers, Quarto, and Tic-Tac-Toe. Now we could tell you just what move to make in order to guarantee a win everytime, but that wouldn't be any fun.