Dots and Boxes

Connect the dots, claim the most boxes

Offline

Play against bots, no connection needed.

Bot difficulty
Board
Play as

Online play

Match with other players. Start when the table is full.

Live matches

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How to play

Dots and Boxes gameplay screenshot
  • The board is a square grid of dots. Players take turns drawing one line between two dots that are next to each other horizontally or vertically; diagonal lines are not allowed.
  • Whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it in their color and must draw another line right away. A line that completes two boxes at once claims both.
  • The game ends when every line is drawn, and the player with more boxes wins. Only the 4×4 board (16 boxes) can end level, which is a draw.
  • Online games allow 30 seconds per line; on timeout a line is drawn automatically and auto-play starts. Players swap who goes first every game, and leaving mid-game counts as a loss. Offline games are untimed and allow undo.

Playing guide

These options and rules describe the current JoyPip version. Choose a mode above before starting; rules are also available during play.

Step-by-step examples

Select a step to see what changes. These are partial examples, not full starting positions.

Practice options

Bot difficulty
Beginner · Amateur · Professional · Master
Board
3×3 boxes · 4×4 boxes · 5×5 boxes
Play as
Red (first) · Blue (second) · Random

Private room options

Board
3×3 boxes · 4×4 boxes · 5×5 boxes

Detailed rules and controls

Tips
  • Avoid drawing the third side of a box: your opponent can add the fourth, score it and keep going
  • Later on, boxes join into chains: give away one box of a chain and your opponent can usually take the whole chain in one turn, so when no safe line is left, give away the shortest chain first
  • Double-dealing: when taking a long chain (3 or more boxes), you can leave the last two on purpose by drawing the line at the far end of the chain instead. Your opponent takes those two but must then open the next chain, so two boxes buy you control
  • When you must give away a two-box chain, draw the line between the two boxes (a hard-hearted handout) so your opponent cannot decline them
  • Long chain rule (a long chain has 3 or more boxes): on 4×4 the first player wants an odd number of long chains, on 3×3 and 5×5 an even number; the second player wants the opposite
Controls
  • Tap between two dots to draw a line. A tap inside a box snaps to the nearest open side, and anywhere inside a box with one side missing picks that side. Holding shows a preview; the line is drawn when you let go, and sliding away cancels
  • The preview tells you how many boxes the line completes, or how many it would give away
  • Keyboard: arrow keys move the cursor, Enter or Space draws a line
  • The move list has one entry per turn: the last line drawn in that turn, with +N for the boxes taken

Frequently asked questions

Why do strong players leave two boxes when taking a chain?

When taking a four-box chain, you can take two boxes and then draw the line at the far end, leaving the last two to your opponent. After taking them, your opponent has to open another chain. Giving up two boxes keeps control, so you take the long chains that follow first.

Do I need a download or a linked email?

Play directly in your browser without a download. Linking email is an optional way to recover your account. Before clearing browser data, consider whether you need to keep your account or local records.

Do matches earn or spend coins?

Earn coins by checking in and spend them on cosmetics. Matches never cost or award coins.

Report a problem

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