About Dots and Boxes on Suvi
Dots and Boxes is the pencil-and-paper classic: take turns drawing a line between two neighboring dots, and whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it and must draw another line. When every line is drawn, the most boxes wins. Play the dots and boxes game online with two players on one phone, passing it across the table, or against the computer at three levels: Easy is still learning, Medium takes every box it can and avoids giving any away, and Hard understands chains, loops and the double-cross, the moves that decide games between good players. The standard board has 5 by 5 dots (16 boxes); a small 4 by 4 dot board and a large 6 by 6 dot board are a tap away. Nothing to download, no account needed.
How to play
- Choose vs Computer (Easy, Medium or Hard) or Two players, and who goes first.
- Take turns drawing one line between two dots next to each other, across or down.
- Draw the fourth side of a box and it's yours: you score a point and must draw another line straight away.
- Avoid drawing a box's third side, which hands it to your opponent.
- When every line is drawn, whoever owns the most boxes wins.
Controls
On a phone or tablet: Press between two dots: the line you're on lights up. Slide to change it, let go to draw it. Undo and Hint sit under the board.
On a desktop: Click between two dots to draw a line, or move with the arrow keys and press Enter. U undoes, H asks for a hint.
Tips
- Late in the game every move gives something away. Give away the shortest chain of boxes first.
- When your opponent opens a long chain, take all but the last two boxes, then draw the line that leaves those two for them: they must take them and open the next chain for you. That's the double-cross.
- Open a chain of two boxes from the middle line, not the end, so your opponent can't use the double-cross on you.
- Count the long chains (three boxes or more) before the safe moves run out: being the player who doesn't have to open the first one usually wins.
Read the full guide: “Dots and Boxes strategy: chains, loops and control” →
Questions
- Is this dots and boxes game free?
- Yes. Every board size and every mode is free, with no account and nothing to download: play the computer, pass one phone between two people, or send a friend a link. Your wins and losses at each level are saved on this device.
- Can two players play on one phone?
- Yes. Choose Two players and take turns drawing lines on the same phone; type both names and the score for the evening is kept at the top. For a friend on their own phone, choose Online with a friend and send the invite link. There's no account: it asks once for your date of birth, and online play isn't open to under-13s.
- Do I get another turn after closing a box?
- Yes. Close a box and you must draw another line, so you can take a whole chain of boxes in one turn. If one line closes two boxes, you score both.
- How good is the computer?
- Easy sometimes gives boxes away. Medium takes every box it can and never draws a box's third side while it has a choice. Hard also plays the double-cross, gives boxes back at the right moment to keep control, and works out the end of the game exactly.
- Can I play a bigger or smaller board?
- Yes. Tap the board size above the board: 4 by 4 dots for a quick game, 5 by 5 dots (the classic) or 6 by 6 dots for long chains. Each size keeps its own unfinished game.
More Dots and Boxes
- Dots and Boxes 4×4 dots
- Dots and Boxes 6×6 dots
- Dots and Boxes vs Computer
- 2 Player Dots and Boxes
- Dots and Boxes With a Friend Online
Similar games
- Four in a Row — Drop discs, line up four. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
- Reversi — Trap discs between yours and flip them. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
- Sea Battle — Hide your fleet, hunt theirs. Play the computer, or a friend on your own phones.
Who made it
Dots and Boxes is a Suvi Original, written and tested by Brasslight Games. Every puzzle is generated and checked by our own tools; nothing is copied from another site.