Dots and Boxes: how to play

The classic pen-and-paper game of dots and boxes, free to play online and hosted by Kip. Take turns drawing a line between two dots; close the fourth side of a box and it's yours, and you draw again. Every level brings a new opponent and a bigger grid, from a 3×3 warm-up against Bruno to a 5×5 Glitch Zone with gold boxes.

How to play

• You draw first. Tap the gap between two dots to draw a line, or use the arrow keys and Enter or Space.
• Close the fourth side of a box to win it, and take another turn straight away. One line can close two boxes at once.
• When every line is drawn, the most points wins. A lost game costs one of your three hearts and you get a rematch; a draw is played again with no heart lost.
• Each box scores 10 × the level number, and taking three boxes in one turn is a chain bonus of 25.

The five levels

1. Neon City: 3×3 boxes vs Bruno: close a box and go again
2. Rooftops: 4×4 vs Mogi: don't draw a box's third side
3. Sewer: 5×5 vs Sewer Bot: save your safe lines
4. Robot Factory: Factory Bot never gives a free box, and gives you the smallest chain it can
5. Glitch Zone: 3 gold boxes worth 2 points, and 6 lines already drawn

Clear the Glitch Zone and the levels loop again with opponents that make 40% fewer careless moves and give away fewer free boxes. You have three hearts for the whole run, and the game is the same for everyone each day, so you can compare scores. Press M to turn the sound off or on.

Tips

• Never draw the third side of a box unless you have to: your opponent takes it.
• Late in the game, count the chains. Hand over the shortest one first.
• When you take a long chain, you can leave the last two boxes for your opponent so they must open the next chain.

Questions

How do you play Dots and Boxes?

Take turns drawing a line between two dots. Close the fourth side of a box to claim it and draw again. Whoever has the most boxes at the end wins.

What is a chain?

A row of boxes that each have two sides drawn, so once one is closed, the rest fall one after another. Whoever opens a chain usually gives all of it away.

Why do I go again after closing a box?

That's the classic rule: closing a box earns another turn, so one move can win a whole chain.

Do the opponents get easier if I keep losing?

A little: every new game in a level makes your opponent slip a bit more.

Is it free?

Yes. Dots and Boxes is free in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download.