Optimal Strategy for Connect 4
Summary
This article presents WeakC4, a low-information, search-free approach to Connect Four, encoding optimal play for a subset of positions in a compact data structure and using a Steady State diagram. It discusses weak vs strong solutions, Claimeven, and the trade-off between memorization and computation, plus technical methods like a genetic algorithm and force-directed visualization. The piece highlights the data footprint (~150 KB), total node count (under 10,000), visualization capabilities, and an Anki deck for memorization.