Dots & Boxes

Take turns joining dots with lines — complete the fourth wall of a box to claim it and go again. Whoever owns the most boxes wins.

How to play

Dots & Boxes is the timeless pencil-and-paper game played on a grid of dots. Players alternate drawing a single line between two adjacent dots. Whenever your line closes the fourth side of a box, you claim that box and immediately take another turn. When every line is drawn, the player who has captured the most boxes wins.

• On your turn, draw one line between two neighbouring dots.
• Complete a box and you claim it, then move again — chains of boxes can fall on a single turn.
• If your line completes no box, play passes to your opponent.
• The game ends when the grid is full; most boxes wins, and equal counts draw.

Game modes

• Vs CPU: play the computer on Easy, Normal, or Hard — Hard plays the chains and sacrifices properly.
• 2-Player: pass-and-play on one device.
• Online: create an invite, join with a code, or quick-match a remote opponent on a 3×3 board.
• Choose a 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5 board for offline games.

Controls

• Desktop: hover to preview a line, then click the empty edge between two dots to draw it.
• Phone & tablet: tap the gap between two dots to draw that line.

Tips & strategy

• Avoid drawing the third side of a box — that hands your opponent a free capture.
• Learn the double-cross: declining the last two boxes of a chain forces your opponent to open the next one, swinging the endgame your way.

About Dots & Boxes

Dots & Boxes is a classic territory game first played with paper and pencil over a century ago. This is an original, free browser build with adjustable board sizes, three CPU levels, local two-player, and online matches. No download or sign-up required.

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