Dots and Boxes
Draw lines, close boxes, and take another turn for each.
What you are trying to do
Claim more boxes than your rival by drawing the fourth side of each square.
Draw an edge
Add one horizontal or vertical line between adjacent dots.
Complete a box
Closing a square claims it and grants another move, so one turn can capture an entire chain.
Count the board
When no edge remains, the player with more claimed boxes wins.
Complete rules for Dots and Boxes
These are the disclosed rules used by the room—not a simplified summary that changes once the match begins.
- 01
Take turns drawing a single line between two adjacent dots.
- 02
Close the fourth side of a box to claim it - and take another turn.
- 03
Avoid drawing the third side of a box, or you hand it to your rival.
- 04
When every line is drawn, whoever owns the most boxes wins.
Modes & room settings
Every setting below is validated by the server. The default is marked so a new host knows exactly what will run without changing anything.
Grid
Changes the number of boxes and the length of the chain endgame.
Uses the 3 x 3 layout for this match.
Uses the 4 x 4 layout for this match.
Uses the 5 x 5 layout for this match.
Three useful habits
Early on, avoid creating the third side of an unclaimed box.
Count chains before opening one; the smallest sacrifice can control the endgame.
After taking a box, look for a connected continuation before drawing elsewhere.
