Arrays: Connect 4 Algorithm – 2D Arrays

Let’s not just connect 4. Let’s connect what you have learned about arrays and everything that brought you to this point to develop your first AI game in java.

  1. What does “your” simplified flowchart for a game look like?
Invent With Python – https://inventwithpython.com/invent4thed/chapter7.html

2. Let’s talk about “your” algorithm.

Let’s play the game

Red is the player – Blue is the computer
Answer the following questions
1. How would your program select the next move?
2. When would your program choose to make a random move?
3. When would your program make an intelligent move?
4. If the red ball numbered 1 was the first move, can you trace the following steps up to this point?
5. Can you make an educated guess as to how many different ways?

3. Use your “Toolkit” from previous lessons:

2D Arrays Intro

  1. You learned how to add rows: 

    int total = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < COUNTRIES; i++)
{
  total = 0;
  for (int j = 0; j < MEDALS; j++) 
  {
    total = total + counts[i][j];
  }
}

  2. You learned how to add columns: 
    int total = 0;
for (int j = 0; j < MEDALS; j++)
{
  total = 0;
  for (int i = 0; i < COUNTRIES; i++) 
  {
    total = total + counts[i][j]; 
  }
}

And accessing the neighboring elements of a 2D array

and from Magic Square

You learned how to add diagonals:

sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < square.length; i++) {
            sum += square[i][i];
        }

sum = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < square.length; i++) {
            sum += square[i][square.length-i];
        }

4. Add details to your simplified flowchart. Let's develop the "computer to win" a bit further. You do not want to play against an infallible player (the computer) because you will not even want to play the game. So a better approach would be a good blend of random moves with smart moves. You decide how "smart" the computer is.

5. Levels of difficulty. Choose the "Medium" level of difficulty and start the same as in the first game. Do the same for "Hard" level and compare to easy and medium. How different are the behaviors of the "computer" moves? Can you find a pattern?