Playing in column 4 gives me several advantages. First, it starts building a potential horizontal threat with my existing piece in column 3. By playing adjacent to my current piece, I'm beginning to establish territory in the middle of the board, which offers more winning pathways than the edges. The center columns generally provide more strategic flexibility because they contribute to more potential winning lines (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal). Additionally, this move doesn't set up any immediate threats for my opponent, as there's no piece above which they could place to create a winning opportunity.