Dots and Boxes

The board has six rows and six columns of dots, creating a 5×5 grid of boxes. There are 60 possible edges: 30 horizontal and 30 vertical. Each turn adds one unused edge between adjacent dots.

Choose an available horizontal or vertical segment. Diagonal lines, existing edges and moves outside the board are not allowed. The server accepts a move only from the current player.

The player who adds a box's fourth side claims that box, regardless of who drew its earlier sides. A shared edge can complete two neighboring boxes at once; both belong to the player who draws that edge.

Completing at least one box keeps the turn with the same player. If your edge completes no box, the turn passes to the opponent. Check the turn indicator after scoring rather than expecting the players to alternate every move.

Each claimed box is worth one point. The score is the number of boxes owned, not the number of edges drawn. The game finishes after all 60 edges are filled, and the player with more boxes wins.

There are 25 boxes in this version. Owning at least 13 secures a majority of the board, but continue following the accepted turns until the server confirms the completed result.

Before adding an edge, count the sides on the adjacent boxes. Giving a box its third side can let your opponent draw the fourth, score and keep playing. One edge can affect two boxes, so inspect both sides of an internal segment.

As the board fills, boxes can form chains in which one capture opens the next. Count the available captures and consider who will move after a chain is exhausted. Taking an immediate point is not the only factor when the remaining layout gives the opponent a longer scoring run.

These checks help explain the position; they do not guarantee a winning sequence. Re-evaluate the board after every accepted edge, including your own scoring moves.

Early in the game, look for an edge that avoids giving either adjacent box its third side. This can delay a scoring opportunity for the opponent, but safe edges eventually run out. At that point, compare the full chains you could open rather than considering just the first box.

In the three-box excerpt below, the outside edges are already drawn. Completing A’s missing side scores one point and leaves B with three sides. Because a capture keeps the turn, the same player can draw the next shared edge and complete B and C together.

A longer chain is not automatically the right one to take first. In some endgames, leaving boxes for the opponent can preserve control over another chain. That choice depends on the whole board, remaining safe edges and scores; count the continuation rather than treating “always take a box” or “never draw a third side” as universal rules.

A scoring move does not hand the clock to the opponent. Stay attentive when you keep the turn, and follow the current countdown. Timeouts and forfeits can decide a staked match before all boxes are claimed.

Check the coin amount and personal limits before queueing. Losing can cost the entire stake, and DUELO takes 8% of a completed winning pot. The public rules guide is available to read without making a deposit.