Yes, you have to do it to advance. :(
You could try this pattern:
If that no longer works, I do have some advice on strategy. Using the above image, see how the row that has
1 and
3 crosses the row that has
5 and
4? They cross at
8.
8 being the third piece for each row. My advice is to *always* set up two rows of two pieces each so that they will cross at the third piece. But wait to put down that third piece. Instead, put down the fifth piece in each row—
6 and
7 in the example above—and *then* put down that third piece, because, from my experience, the computer will successfully block you every time you have three pieces in a row.
Hope that makes sense. =)
Example game below. Note that you're going to have to block his move
every time he gets three pieces in a row (just like he does to you). Also, you might want to try working backwards with the placement of your rows...meaning specifically your first four pieces...the example below shows what I'm talking about.
