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Dots and Boxes
Your turn: draw a line
Tap between two neighbouring dots to draw a line. Your record: 0 wins · 0 losses · 0 draws
How to play Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes is a classic pencil-and-paper game, simple to learn and full of clever traps.
- Take turns drawing one line between two dots next to each other, across or down.
- Close a box by drawing its fourth side, and it’s yours.
- Closing a box earns another turn, so you can sometimes take several in a row.
- When every line is drawn, the player with the most boxes wins.
Quick tips for winning
- Don’t draw the third side of a box. It hands your opponent that box.
- Count the chains. Late in the game, the board splits into chains of boxes. When you must give one away, give the shortest.
- The double-cross. Experts sometimes leave the last two boxes of a long chain for their opponent, so that the opponent has to open the next chain.
Learn about chains, safe moves and the double-cross.
Read the Dots and Boxes guideDots and Boxes FAQ
Is Dots and Boxes free?
Yes. Play the computer or a friend as often as you like, free in your browser.
Do I get another turn after closing a box?
Yes. Every time you complete a box, you draw another line.
What board sizes can I play?
3×3, 4×4, 5×5 or 6×6 boxes. Bigger boards take longer and have more room for strategy.
How good is the computer?
Easy sometimes misses boxes and gives them away. Medium never hands you a box if it can help it. Hard also keeps its losses as small as possible at the end.
Can it be a draw?
Yes, on boards with an even number of boxes, if both players finish with the same number.