About Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes is a classic pen-and-paper game that is easy to learn and full of clever tricks.
Our computer opponent grabs boxes when it can and, on harder levels, avoids handing boxes to you.
Dots and Boxes at a glance
| Genre | Board game |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no download or sign-up |
| Controls | Tap |
| Typical game length | 3 to 8 minutes |
| Lives | None |
| Works on | Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser |
| Daily challenge | Yes, the same puzzle for everyone each day |
How to play Dots and Boxes
- Tap a gap. Draw a line between two neighboring dots.
- Close a box. The fourth side claims it and gives you another turn.
- Avoid the third side. Drawing it hands the box to your opponent.
Rules
- Claiming a box gives an extra turn.
- The game ends when every line is drawn.
Levels and difficulty
Easy (4×4 boxes), Medium (5×5) and Hard (6×6).
Scoring
50 points per box plus a win bonus, multiplied by difficulty. Daily challenge scores can be shared with friends.
Tips and strategy for Dots and Boxes
- Count how many "safe" lines are left near the end.
- Sometimes giving away two boxes wins a long chain.
- Avoid creating long chains your opponent can collect.
History of the game
Dots and Boxes was first described by French mathematician Édouard Lucas in 1889.
How we built and tested Dots and Boxes
We tested line drawing, box scoring and extra turns, and checked that the game ends exactly when all lines are drawn.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get another turn after a box?
Yes.
Who goes first?
You do.