How do you play Dots and Boxes?

Two players take turns drawing one straight line at a time between two adjacent dots on a rectangular grid — horizontal or vertical only, no diagonals. Whoever draws the fourth (closing) side of a 1x1 box claims that box, writes their initial inside, and takes another turn immediately. Play continues until every possible line is drawn; the player with the most boxes wins .

What grid size should beginners start with?

Start with a 3x3 dot grid , which produces a tiny 2x2 playing field of 4 boxes — a complete game takes about a minute and lets new players see the closure-and-bonus-turn rule in action. Step up to a 5x5 dot grid (16 boxes) once everyone is comfortable, and 6x6 or larger (25+ boxes) for serious strategic play where chains and the double-cross sacrifice start to matter.

What is the 'double-cross' strategy in Dots and Boxes?

As the grid fills, remaining boxes form chains — runs of adjacent boxes where opening one hands the opponent every box in the chain via the bonus-turn rule. An advanced player deliberately sacrifices the last 2 boxes of a long chain (3 or more boxes) by NOT closing the second-to-last segment — forcing the opponent to open the next chain instead. This chain-control strategy was popularized by Elwyn Berlekamp in his book The Dots and Boxes Game .

What is Misère Dots and Boxes?

Misère Dots and Boxes is a variant where the scoring is reversed: the player with the FEWEST boxes wins . This completely flips strategy — instead of trying to close boxes, you now want to avoid closing them whenever possible. It is a fun follow-up game once players have mastered the standard rules.

Printable Dots and Boxes Rules — How to Play

Q: Can three or more people play Dots and Boxes?

Yes — the rules extend naturally to 3 or more players, with turns rotating around the table. However, 2 players is the standard , and is also where the strategic depth lives: chain control and the double-cross only work cleanly head-to-head, because with three players the opponent who has to open the next chain may not be the one you wanted to punish.

About Printable Dots and Boxes Rules

Yes. Every time your line completes a box, you claim it and draw again. Your turn only ends when you draw a line that does not close any box.

By the ToolFluency team · Updated October 2026

Dots and Boxes is a pencil-and-paper game for 2 players that needs only a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil each. Players take turns joining dots on a grid, and whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it and moves again. When every line has been drawn, the player with the most boxes wins, and a game takes about 5 to 20 minutes. The full printable rules sheet, with grid diagrams of legal moves and box closures, is on this page.

How to play Dots and Boxes

Draw a rectangular grid of evenly spaced dots and leave it empty. A 3x3 dot grid makes 4 boxes for beginners, 5x5 makes 16, and 6x6 makes 25.
Decide who goes first, and have each player choose an initial or a pen colour for marking boxes.
On your turn, draw exactly one line joining two dots that sit next to each other, horizontally or vertically. No diagonals, no skipping a dot, and no drawing over a line that is already there.
The player who draws the fourth side of a box claims it. Write your initial inside. The first three sides score nothing.
Whenever your line closes a box, you take another turn straight away, and keep going for as long as each line closes a box. If a line closes nothing, play passes to your opponent.
One interior line can close two boxes at once if both neighbours already have three sides. You score both and still go again.
There is no passing. Play continues until every pair of neighbouring dots is joined, then count the boxes: most boxes wins. A grid with an even number of boxes can end in a tie.

Examples

Strategy tips

Early in the game, never draw the third side of a box. It hands your opponent a free box and an extra turn.
Count the long chains as the grid fills. Once every safe line is gone, someone has to open a chain, and you want it to be your opponent.
Use the double-cross: when your opponent opens a long chain of 3 or more boxes, take all but the last 2, then draw the line that leaves those 2 for them. They take 2 boxes but must then open the next chain for you.
When you have to open a chain, open the shortest one first so you give away as few boxes as possible.
Start beginners on a 3x3 dot grid so they learn the extra-turn rule, then move to 5x5, where chain strategy starts to matter.

Example: the end of a game

On a 4x4 dot grid there are 3 x 3 = 9 boxes. Near the end, B opens a chain of 3 boxes. A closes all three in a row, drawing a line and moving again each time, then has to draw one more line that closes nothing. The final count is A 5, B 4. Because 9 is odd, a tie was never possible.

Frequently asked questions

Do you get another turn after closing a box?

Yes. Every time your line completes a box, you claim it and draw again. Your turn only ends when you draw a line that does not close any box.

Do you have to close a box if you can?

These rules do not force you to. Declining boxes is the heart of the double-cross, where a strong player leaves the last 2 boxes of a long chain so the opponent has to open the next one.

Can you pass your turn?

No. If any legal line is left you must draw one, even if every move gives your opponent a box. The game only ends when every pair of neighbouring dots is joined.

How many boxes does a grid make?

A grid of N x M dots makes (N-1) x (M-1) boxes. So 3x3 dots make 4 boxes, 5x5 dots make 16 and 6x6 dots make 25.

Can three or more people play Dots and Boxes?

Yes, turns simply rotate around the table. Two players is the standard, though, and chain control and the double-cross work best head-to-head.

What is the Swedish board?

It is a variant where the four outer sides of the grid are drawn before play starts, so only interior lines are played. It shortens the opening and puts more weight on chain control.

What is Misere Dots and Boxes?

The scoring is reversed and the player with the fewest boxes wins. You now try to avoid closing boxes, which turns the usual strategy upside down.

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