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If you want a really easy game that you can play anywhere you go, Dots and Boxes is the perfect way to beat boredom. Also known as Dots or “The Dot Game,” players add lines to a grid of dots and earn points for closing off boxes. If you’re ready to start playing, grab some pens and paper and keep reading for all the rules. We’ll even cover some winning strategies to try out so you can beat your opponent.
Things You Should Know
- Make a 4 x 4 grid of dots on a sheet of paper, and give each player a pen or pencil.
- Take turns drawing a single line to connect 2 dots that are next to each other. If you add the 4th line to enclose a box, earn a point and take another turn.
- Win the game if you capture the most boxes once you fill the entire grid.
Steps
Dots and Boxes Rules
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Draw a grid of dots that’s 4 x 4 or larger. Get a pen or pencil and a blank sheet of paper to start. Create rows and columns of dots so they’re evenly spaced about 1 centimetre (0.39 in) apart. [2] X Research source
A 4 x 4 grid is perfect for a short game, but you can make the grid as large as you want. Just stick to an even number of rows or columns if you want to avoid ending in a tie.
Give each player a pen or pencil. Using different colors makes it easier to see what moves each player has made, but it’s okay to use the same color if that’s all you have. -
Connect 2 dots with a straight line on your turn. Flip a coin, play rock-paper-scissors, or choose any other method to randomly pick who goes first. After that, players alternate turns.
When it’s your turn, pick 2 dots that are next to each other and draw a horizontal or vertical line to connect them. You’re not allowed to connect dots diagonally. [3] X Research source
Try to avoid drawing a line that becomes the third side of a box. Your opponent could quickly capture it on their next turn. -
Draw the fourth side of a box to capture it and take another turn. Once a player draws the fourth line to enclose a 1 x 1 box, they’ll color it in or write their initial inside to score 1 point.
After that, the player must draw another line on the grid, which may enclose another box if possible. [4] X Research source
A chain is a group of boxes where adding the fourth side to one creates the third side of the next box in line. That way, a player can use their extra turns to complete all the boxes in the chain. -
Count who has the most boxes after the grid is filled. Once all the boxes are captured in the grid, count how many boxes each player captured. Whoever has more boxes is the winner of the game! [5] X Research source
If you want to keep playing, draw a new grid and switch which player goes first.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan we play 5x6 or 7x9 or must we play 3x3, 4x4, 5x5?Community AnswerAny size grid will do. It may influence strategy, but rules and scoring are unchanged.
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QuestionCan I leave a potential box open for the other player just to gain more boxes from this move?Community AnswerYes, you can.
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QuestionWhat happens if the opponent wins?Catlady69Community AnswerIf the opponent wins, they win. You can play again, or admit defeat. Most times, if you do another round, do a third, or any other odd numbered amount, this will assure only 1 winner.
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301454149_Technique_Analysis_of_Dots-and-Boxes
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uWrKllUAfm8?t=24
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301454149_Technique_Analysis_of_Dots-and-Boxes
- ↑ https://web.ma.utexas.edu/users/allcock/research/dots.pdf
- ↑ https://www.math.mcgill.ca/gsams/drp/papers/2022Winter_Niu.pdf
- ↑ https://www.math.mcgill.ca/gsams/drp/papers/2022Winter_Niu.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/KboGyIilP6k?t=158
About This Article
Dots and Boxes is a two-player game played with a pen and paper. The aim of the game is to capture more boxes than your opponent by drawing lines on a grid. To set the game up, draw a grid of dots that is at least 4 dots long and 4 dots wide, although you can make the grid bigger if you'd like to make the game last longer. To play, each player takes turns drawing a single line between two dots on the grid either horizontally or vertically. You cannot draw lines diagonally. Whenever a player completes the fourth side of a square and encloses it, that player scores 1 point and colors the box in or writes their initials inside of it to mark it off as their box. If more than one box is created by a single line, that player scores 1 point for each box that they created. After a point has been scored, the scoring player draws another line, and their turn only ends when they can’t finish off a box. Once every line on the grid has been drawn, both players count the number of boxes that they scored to calculate their points. The winning player is the one with the most boxes. If you want to learn strategies on how to win dots and boxes, keep reading the article!
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