Dots and boxes rules
Dots and boxes is a game for two on squared paper. Players take turns joining neighbouring dots with a line. Whoever draws the fourth side of a box takes it. The player with more boxes at the end wins.
How to play
- The game starts with nothing but a grid of dots.
- Players take turns. A move is one line between two neighbouring dots, across or down. No diagonals.
- If your line closes a box, that is, draws its fourth side, you take the box and move again at once.
- One line can close two boxes at the same time. You then move again, but only once.
- The game ends when every line has been drawn.
Who wins
The player with more boxes. On 3 × 3, 5 × 5 and 7 × 7 boards the number of boxes is odd, so there is never a draw.
Board size
Against Dot you choose a small 3 × 3 board, a medium 5 × 5, or a large 7 × 7. Small takes a few minutes; large is for counting. Two-player games use the medium board.
Who goes first
Against Dot the start alternates after every game. In a two-player game the invited player draws first.
Two-player rules
- Each line has a 60-second limit. If your time runs out, you lose.
- A player who is disconnected for more than a minute and a half forfeits the game.
- You can resign at any time. It counts as a loss.
To play with a friend, see dots and boxes for two players.
You know the rules. Now how to win.