Dots and Boxes
Take turns drawing lines between dots. Close a box to claim it and go again. Most boxes wins.
the best bit: one line that hands you seven boxes in a row
- Players
- 2–4 (best with 2)
- Time
- 5–15 min
- Learn in
- Seconds
- Mood
- Chill
- Format
- Everyone for themselves
The 30-second version
Draw a grid of dots. Take turns drawing a line between two neighboring dots. When your line closes a box, write your initial in it and go again. When every box is claimed, whoever has the most wins.
honestly, just read this out and go.
Grab these
Set up
- Draw a grid of dots, five across and five down.
How to play
-
Draw a line
On your turn, connect two dots that are next to each other, across or up and down. No diagonals.
-
Close a box
If your line finishes the fourth side of a box, write your initial inside it.
-
Go again
Every time you close a box, take another turn.
-
Fill the grid
Keep going until every box has an initial in it.
How to win
Whoever claims the most boxes wins.
Once you know it
- Bigger board
- For a longer game, use a grid of eight dots by eight.
From experience…
- Don't draw the third side of a box. It hands the next player a free one.
- Near the end, giving away two boxes on purpose can win you the long chain that comes after.