The notebook game of joining dots, where finishing a square claims it and earns you another line.
Dots and Boxes is the pencil game many people first played in the margins of a school notebook. Two players share a grid of dots and take turns linking two neighbors with a short line. Whoever draws the last side of a square owns it and has to move again. Once every line is in place, the player holding more boxes wins.
This version uses a plain black-and-white board, and you can play it against the computer or with a friend on the same screen.
Getting started
Start by choosing a board size, from a small 4x4 up through 5x5 and 6x6 to a large 8x8. The first line always belongs to Player 1. Each turn you add one line, across or down, between two dots that sit next to each other. Lines that are already drawn cannot be reused.
Player 1 draws solid black lines and stamps claimed boxes with a cross. Player 2 uses dotted lines and a circle. A key below the board shows which mark is whose, and a running count shows the boxes each player holds.
How a turn works
The key rule is the bonus move. Finishing the fourth side of any box claims it and gives you another line right away. If that line also closes a box, you keep going. Your turn only ends when you draw a line that completes nothing. A single opening can turn into a long run.
The game is over when no lines are left. The higher box count takes the game, and a tie is a draw.
Strategy notes
Early on, the safest move is one that leaves every box with two sides or fewer. Any line that puts a third side on a box hands that box to your opponent.
As the board fills, boxes join into chains, which are rows of squares that each have two sides drawn. The player who has to draw into a chain tends to give the whole thing away. When you run out of safe lines, give away the smallest chain first. On bigger boards, keep count of how many chains exist and how long each one is, because the last few usually decide the winner.
Playing against the computer
There are three computer levels:
- Easy draws lines at random, which is good for learning the rules.
- Medium takes any open box and avoids giving you one.
- Hard plays like Medium, and when every line left would hand you a box, it picks the one that gives away the least.
Beating Hard on the 8x8 board takes real planning around chains.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw a line | Arrow keys to reach a line, Enter to draw it | Click the gap between two neighboring dots | Tap the gap between two neighboring dots |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", pick Player 1 or 2, a level and a grid size, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", pick Player 1 or 2, a level and a grid size, then tap "New game" |
| Play a friend on one screen | — | Click "2 Player (local)" | Tap "2 Player (local)" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
| Open settings | — | Click "Settings" | Tap "Settings" |
Dots and Boxes FAQ
Can two people play Dots and Boxes on one device?
Yes. Choose the two-player option and pass the phone, tablet or laptop back and forth. You can also face the computer instead, taking either the first or second seat. Either way, everything is done with taps or clicks.
How long does a game take?
It depends on the grid. A 4x4 board wraps up in a few minutes, the default 6x6 takes longer, and the 8x8 board has 144 lines to fill, which makes for a much longer match.
What if I make a bad move?
Press Undo. It walks back through earlier moves, so you can see what went wrong and try a different line. A game in progress is also kept in your browser, so a page reload will not wipe it.
Can I make the board easier to see?
Yes. Settings has options for larger text, high contrast and wider spacing. You can also change how quickly the computer answers, which helps if you want time to follow each of its moves.
