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An ancient Chinese territory control strategy board game
Strategy4.7
Dots and Boxes
Take turns drawing lines between dots. Close a box to claim it and move again. Most boxes wins.
Dots and Boxes
Draw one line per turn. Finish a box's fourth side to claim it and go again. Avoid drawing the third side of a box.
Space or Enter to start
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Game Guide
Dots and Boxes Guide, Rules, and Tips
Dots and Boxes is the pen-and-paper game from the back of every school notebook. Two players take turns drawing lines between neighbouring dots on a 5×5 grid of boxes. Draw the fourth side of a box and it's yours, and you move again. When every line is drawn, the player with more boxes wins.
How to Play
- On your turn, draw one horizontal or vertical line between two neighbouring dots.
- If your line completes the fourth side of a box, you claim it and must draw another line.
- If your line doesn't complete a box, the turn passes to your opponent.
- The game ends when all 60 lines are drawn. There are 25 boxes, so the player with 13 or more wins.
Strategy and Tips
- Never draw the third side of a box if you can help it: your opponent will simply take it.
- Late in the game every move gives something away, so count the chains of boxes and give away the shortest one.
- When you take a long chain, consider leaving the last two boxes for your opponent (a 'double-cross') so they have to open the next chain.
- Early lines on the edge of the board are usually safe and keep your options open.
Controls
MouseTouch
Click or tap near the gap between two dots to draw a line. The nearest open line is highlighted as you move the pointer, and the most recent line is outlined in yellow.
Background
Dots and Boxes was first described by French mathematician Édouard Lucas in 1889 as 'la pipopipette'. It looks childish, but the endgame is deep enough that mathematician Elwyn Berlekamp wrote a whole book on its strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get another turn after closing a box?
Yes. Completing a box earns it and you must draw another line straight away.
Can the game end in a draw?
No. The board has 25 boxes, an odd number, so one player always has more.
How strong is the computer?
It always takes free boxes, avoids giving away boxes while it can, and in the endgame sacrifices the shortest chain.