How to play Dots and Boxes

Introduction to Dots and Boxes

Dots and Boxes is one of the paper-and-pencil games for 2 players. It consists of at least 3 x 3 dots. You can set any size of the dots you want. The larger the size of the dots, the longer the game, and the more worthwhile the game.

Rules in Dots and Boxes

The main goal is to form more boxes than the other player.

Each player can only draw one line to connect 2 dots. However, the player can get an extra turn if he or she manages to draw a box. Thus, the player can continue to draw the line until no more boxes that the player can manage to form.

Each player has to mark his or her own boxes with a unique symbol such as "A", "B", and "C" or shade the boxes with unique colour.

After all the dots are completely connected, each player needs to count his or her own number of boxes. The player who has the most number of boxes formed wins the game.

Example game 1

For example, in this game, you will notice that the player with the blue coloured pen blundered. The player gives his or her opponent free boxes to draw.

Thus, the player with the red coloured pen draw a line that connected 2 dots and this forms a box. So, the player can conquer the box and mark it as his or her box. AND don't forget, the player can get extra turn because he or she manages to form a box.

So, the player with the red coloured pen draw a line that forms a box and this gives him or her an extra turn again. 

And since there are no more boxes that can be conquered, the player can just randomly draw the line that connects any 2 dots (But not the 2 dots that give the opponent chances to capture boxes).