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Banner for Dots & Boxes 2 to 4 players

Turf Wars

Play Dots & Boxes online

Also known as Dots and Boxes

The playground classic, now tactical for up to four: whoever draws the fourth line claims the box — and gets to go again.

Free · no sign-up · no download

How it plays

Play Dots and Boxes online just like on graph paper, only with up to four players: in turn, everyone draws a chalk line between two dots. Whoever closes the fourth side of a box claims it, colours it in their own shade, and gets to go again — until the chain runs out and play moves on. Once every line is drawn, whoever holds the most boxes wins; ties go to whoever claimed the last one.

The story

Dots & Boxes, comic panel 1 of 3
Draw a line between two neighbouring brass dots, taking turns.
Dots & Boxes, comic panel 2 of 3
Whoever closes the fourth wall claims the box and gets to draw again right away.
Dots & Boxes, comic panel 3 of 3
Trigger chain reactions and secure the majority of the city districts.

Goal and rules

Goal Most boxes

Claim more boxes than everyone else. Once every line is drawn, the round is over.

Tie: whoever claimed a box last wins.

  1. Drawing On your turn, draw a free line between two dots.
  2. Claiming Whoever draws the fourth line around a box claims it and fills it with their colour.
  3. Again Whoever claims a box draws another line right away. With two players, the turn passes after six such lines in a row; with three or four, already after four.
  4. Careful The third line around a box hands it to whoever's next.

Controls

Tap a free line between two dots — one tap draws it. For a moment afterwards, "Undo" appears on the board; tapping it cancels the move. With a keyboard, the arrow keys pick a line and Enter draws it; a "Draw" button also appears under the board.

In the arena, the goal and the rules are always behind the question mark, even mid-round — and between rounds, so is the story.

Quick Answers

Does Dots & Boxes cost anything?

No. Dots & Boxes is free and ad-free, and there is nothing to buy. You play for points and chips with no cash value, never for money.

How do I play Dots & Boxes with friends?

Press “Open Table” and send the link or the six-character room code to the others. 2 to 4 players take part, everyone else watches.

Do I need to download anything or sign up?

No. Dots & Boxes runs right in your browser, on your phone just as on your computer, with no app, no account and no email address.

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