How to play Dots & Boxes
- Players take turns drawing one line between two neighbouring dots — across or down, never diagonally.
- If your line completes the fourth side of a box, the box is yours: it fills with your colour and shape.
- Closing a box earns you another turn straight away, so you can grab several boxes in a row.
- If your line doesn't close a box, the turn passes to the next player.
- When every line is drawn, the player with the most boxes wins. Players tied for the most boxes share the win.
Strategy tips
- Don't draw the third side of a box if you can help it — your opponent will simply close it and go again.
- Early on, play 'safe' lines that give nothing away. The real game starts when the safe lines run out.
- When you have to give something away, give the smallest group of boxes you can.
- Learn the double-cross: when your opponent opens a long chain, take all but the last two boxes, then draw the line at the far end. They get two boxes, but they must open the next chain for you.
- Count the long chains (three boxes or more). Strong players try to make sure their opponent is the one forced to open the first long chain.
Three ways to play
Solo: box puzzles — a fresh challenge every day, the same for everyone. vs Computer: four characters from Rookie Robo (easy) to Grandmaster Owl (expert); beat each one to earn its star. vs Friend: pass the device (up to 4 players), or send an invite link and play online — no account needed.
Variants
Choose a 3×3 board for a quick game that's great for younger kids, 4×4 for a classic match, or 5×5 for a long strategic battle. Playing with friends on one device works for 2, 3 or 4 players, each with their own colour and shape (circle, diamond, triangle and star). Solo mode has three daily box puzzles: endgames where you move first and must finish with more boxes than Grandmaster Owl, who plays perfectly.
About Dots & Boxes
Dots and Boxes was first described in print by the French mathematician Édouard Lucas in 1889, who called it la pipopipette. All you need is paper and a pencil, which is why generations of kids have played it in school notebooks. Behind the simple rules hides a surprisingly deep game: mathematicians, most famously Elwyn Berlekamp, worked out the theory of chains, loops and control that expert players use. It's a lovely way to practise counting, planning ahead and thinking about what your opponent will do next.
FAQ
Who invented Dots and Boxes?
The game was first published by the French mathematician Édouard Lucas in 1889 under the name la pipopipette. It has been a favourite pencil-and-paper game ever since.
What is the double-cross in Dots and Boxes?
When your opponent opens a chain of boxes, you can take all of them except the last two and finish with a line that hands those two over. Your opponent gets two boxes but then has to move again — usually opening the next, bigger chain for you.
Can more than two people play?
Yes. Choose vs Friend on one device and pick 2, 3 or 4 players. Online games with a link and games against the computer are for two players.
How do the daily box puzzles work?
Every day there are three new endgames, the same for everyone. You move first and must end up with more boxes than Grandmaster Owl. You get three hints, and you can retry or skip any puzzle.
Is it free? Does it work offline?
Completely free with no sign-up. Install the site from your browser menu and it keeps working without internet.