Play Dots & Boxes online – free, with friends or against a bot
Dots & Boxes starts as a pencil game and turns, about two thirds of the way through, into a counting problem: whoever is forced to open the first long chain usually hands the other player the whole thing. Board Bash plays it on an 8×6 grid of boxes, or a quicker 5×4 one.
How to play Dots & Boxes
The board is a grid of boxes — 8×6 by default, or 5×4 for a shorter game. Every turn you draw one line between two neighbouring dots.
Completing the fourth side of a box claims it for you, and you immediately move again.
One line can complete two boxes at once. Both are yours, and you still take another turn.
If your line completes nothing, your turn is over.
The game ends when every box has an owner. Whoever claimed more boxes wins.
Two options change the start: "Perimeter" draws the outer edges before play, and "Board partially filled" scatters extra neutral lines around. Neither belongs to a player.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I keep losing at the end?
Long chains decide the game. Once the free moves run out, the player forced to open a chain gives the rest of it away — count the chains before you run out of safe lines.
What board sizes are there?
8×6 boxes as standard and 5×4 for a quick game. Both are chosen when you create the game, along with the perimeter and partially-filled options.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Choose "Computer" and one of four difficulty levels; the bot plays the same board and the same options you picked.