Setup and opening position
A five-by-five array of dots defines sixteen boxes and forty undrawn horizontal or vertical edges. You draw first and every edge can be claimed only once.
Dots and Boxes
Own more than half of the sixteen boxes after all forty edges have been drawn and every box is closed.
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How to play
Own more than half of the sixteen boxes after all forty edges have been drawn and every box is closed.
- A five-by-five array of dots defines sixteen boxes and forty undrawn horizontal or vertical edges. You draw first and every edge can be claimed only once.
- Draw one unclaimed edge. Completing one or two boxes assigns them to you and keeps your turn; a move that completes no box passes play to the computer.
- Own more than half of the sixteen boxes after all forty edges have been drawn and every box is closed.
Strategy tips
- Avoid supplying the third side of a box too early, count long chains before opening them, and use a double-cross when sacrificing two boxes preserves control of a larger chain.
- Taking a single available box automatically can open the next edge of a long chain, handing the opponent far more boxes than the immediate point was worth.
- Map every remaining chain and loop before drawing a safe-looking edge; the number and parity of those components determine when to keep or surrender control.
Complete guide
Rules, scoring, and strategy
Dots and Boxes is a complete browser implementation with its own versioned rules profile. Claim a sixteen-box lattice by drawing its forty edges, earning another turn whenever your line closes a square.
Legal moves and game flow
Draw one unclaimed edge. Completing one or two boxes assigns them to you and keeps your turn; a move that completes no box passes play to the computer.
Winning and terminal positions
Own more than half of the sixteen boxes after all forty edges have been drawn and every box is closed. Map every remaining chain and loop before drawing a safe-looking edge; the number and parity of those components determine when to keep or surrender control.
Practical strategy
Avoid supplying the third side of a box too early, count long chains before opening them, and use a double-cross when sacrificing two boxes preserves control of a larger chain. Taking a single available box automatically can open the next edge of a long chain, handing the opponent far more boxes than the immediate point was worth.
Questions players ask
What is the objective in Dots and Boxes?
Own more than half of the sixteen boxes after all forty edges have been drawn and every box is closed.
Which moves are legal in Dots and Boxes?
Draw one unclaimed edge. Completing one or two boxes assigns them to you and keeps your turn; a move that completes no box passes play to the computer.
What should I plan first in Dots and Boxes?
Avoid supplying the third side of a box too early, count long chains before opening them, and use a double-cross when sacrificing two boxes preserves control of a larger chain.
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