Dots and Boxes

Join neighbouring dots, complete boxes and collect the most squares.

Getting a board

Craft a Dots and Boxes Board and fit it into a Small Game Table. Place matching Game Chairs facing the table, then take a seat.

Materials

1 ×Blue dye
7 ×Any planks
1 ×White wool

How to play

Open the fitted board to make your moves. How to play in the side tray gives you the same lessons with illustrations inside the game.

Win the most boxes

Sixteen boxes: Two players share a five-by-five dot board. Claim more boxes than your opponent. — **Sixteen boxes**
Two players share a five-by-five dot board. Claim more boxes than your opponent.

Take turns: Add one line between neighbouring dots. Usually, the other player goes next. — **Take turns**
Add one line between neighbouring dots. Usually, the other player goes next.

Short straight lines

Across or down: Connect two neighbouring dots horizontally or vertically. — **Across or down**
Connect two neighbouring dots horizontally or vertically.

No shortcuts: No diagonals, skipped dots, or lines over a line already drawn. — **No shortcuts**
No diagonals, skipped dots, or lines over a line already drawn.

Close the fourth side

Three sides: This box has one side missing. Draw that side to claim it. — **Three sides**
This box has one side missing. Draw that side to claim it.

Your box: The final side earns the box for you, whoever drew the other three sides. — **Your box**
The final side earns the box for you, whoever drew the other three sides.

A box earns another turn

Play again: After making a box, draw another line. Keep going while you keep closing boxes. — **Play again**
After making a box, draw another line. Keep going while you keep closing boxes.

Two at once: One shared line can close two boxes. You score both and still play again. — **Two at once**
One shared line can close two boxes. You score both and still play again.

Think one turn ahead

Third-side trap: Drawing a third side can give your opponent an easy box. Look before you place. — **Third-side trap**
Drawing a third side can give your opponent an easy box. Look before you place.

Count at the end: When all sixteen boxes are owned, the higher total wins. Eight each is a draw. — **Count at the end**
When all sixteen boxes are owned, the higher total wins. Eight each is a draw.

Rules in more detail

Double boxes and extra turns

The five-by-five dot lattice has forty edges and sixteen boxes. A single edge can close two neighbouring boxes and claim both. Any scoring edge keeps your turn, allowing an entire chain of completed boxes to be taken before the other player moves. Equal ownership after all sixteen boxes are filled produces a draw.

Keep playing

Use Rematch after the result to play again. To pause an unfinished match, the table owner can remove and keep its board.

See seats and solo play for multiplayer and Play alone, or item stakes if you want to agree on a pot.