How to Play Dots and Boxes

The goal is to complete more boxes than the AI on the 4x4 box grid (5x5 dots).

Take turns with the AI joining two horizontally or vertically adjacent dots with a line. Click or tap on the space between two dots to draw a line.

If you complete the fourth side of a 1x1 box, you earn one point (the box will be filled with your color and initial: 'YOU') and you get to take another turn. If this move opens up a chain of more boxes, they will be automatically filled for you!

The game ends when all possible lines have been drawn. The player with the most boxes wins!

Gameplay Strategies

• Think Ahead: Avoid Easy Giveaways: Before drawing a line, consider if it creates a "third side" for any potential box. Completing a third side means the next player can easily complete that box. Sometimes, it's better to make a 'safe' move in an area that doesn't immediately benefit your opponent, even if it means not taking a line yourself.
• The Art of the Double-Cross: This advanced tactic might involve intentionally letting the AI take one or two boxes. Why? To set up a situation where you can then claim a much longer chain of boxes. This requires looking several moves ahead and being willing to sacrifice a few points for a larger reward.
• Mastering Chains: The Key to Victory: A "chain" is a sequence of boxes where completing one allows you to complete the next, and so on. As the game progresses, try to identify and count these chains. The player who gets to start the *last long chain* often wins. Maneuver the game so your opponent is forced to open up chains for you.
• Safe vs. Unsafe Moves: A 'safe' move is drawing a line that doesn't create a three-sided box for your opponent. An 'unsafe' move does. Early in the game, make as many safe moves as possible. As the board fills, unsafe moves become inevitable; the skill lies in controlling when and where these occur.
• Patience and Observation: Don't rush! Scan the entire board on your turn. The AI might make a mistake, or you might spot an opportunity you initially missed. A clear understanding of the current board state is crucial.
• Endgame Tactics: Setting Traps: When only a few lines remain, the game becomes highly tactical. Try to leave your opponent with no choice but to make a move that gives you the final few boxes. This often involves careful counting and forcing them into specific plays.

History of Dots and Boxes

Dots and Boxes is a classic pencil-and-paper game first published in the 19th century by French mathematician Édouard Lucas, who originally called it "la pipopipette."

Over the years, it has been known by many names, including Dots and Squares, Boxes, Square-it, and Pigs in a Pen. Despite its simple rules, Dots and Boxes is a game of surprising mathematical depth and is studied in the field of combinatorial game theory.