Connect 4 is known to be a solved game.
I am introducing the Connect 4 is Excellent, Connect 3 is Great, variant of Connect 4.
Both players play like connect 4 and fill the grid i.e. they don't stop when 4 or more of a color is connected in a row, as contrary to classic connect 4.
When the grid is filled. For all 4 colors or more connected a player gets, he scores 3 points and for all 3 colors exactly a player gets, he scores 1 point.
Here is a example:
| X | O | X | X | O | O | X |
| X | O | O | X | O | X | X |
| X | X | O | O | O | O | X |
| O | X | O | X | X | X | O |
| X | O | O | O | X | O | X |
| X | O | X | O | O | X | O |
In this example,
X scores $0\times 3 $ points (it doesn't have any 4 connected X) + $5\times 1$ points = $5$ points
O scores $3\times 3$ points (it has one vertical 4 connected, one horizontal and one diagonal) + $5\times 1$ points = $14$ points
This is a large victory for O!
The puzzle asks: is Connect 4 is Excellent, Connect 3 is Great a solved game? Can you prove your answer?