Dots & Boxes

Dots & Boxes Rules

  • The board is a grid of dots. On each turn, a player draws one line between two adjacent dots (horizontal or vertical).
  • If drawing a line completes the fourth side of a box, the player claims it (marked in their color) and takes another turn.
  • Multiple boxes can be claimed in a single turn if each capture opens another.
  • When all boxes are claimed, the player with more boxes wins.
  • Equal scores result in a draw.

Levels: 3×3 (9 boxes), 3×4 (12 boxes), 4×4 (16 boxes).

Key idea: chains

A chain is a sequence of boxes where each already has three sides drawn. When your opponent opens the chain (draws the fourth side of the first box), you can capture all boxes in the chain one by one.

Basic strategy:

  1. Capture boxes whenever you can.
  2. Don't create 3-sided boxes (don't "gift" the opponent).
  3. When all remaining moves are dangerous, sacrifice the shortest chain and keep the long ones.
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