Dots and Boxes for 2 players. One line changes everything.

Set up a game on one screen

1. Open the board. The button starts Same device mode or restores your local round.
2. Choose your colors. Player 1 is Gold and starts; Player 2 is Coral.
3. Draw an edge. Tap a faint horizontal or vertical line between neighboring dots.
4. Follow the highlighted player card. Pass the device after a non-scoring move. Keep it whenever you close a box.

The last side wins the square

It does not matter who drew the first three sides. The player who draws the fourth claims the box, scores one point and plays again. The square fills with that player’s color and number. A shared edge can complete two squares at once, scoring two points and granting one next move.

The board has five rows of five dots, forming 16 boxes. Play continues until every box is claimed. More boxes wins; eight each is a draw. See the full rules.

A phone, a mouse or a keyboard

Both players can see the whole position, so there is nothing to hide when passing a phone. On a computer, hover to preview an edge, or Tab to the board’s edges and press Enter or Space. Arrow keys move between edges. The small white mark identifies the latest line.

The scores and active player cards sit above the board, and the board expands to fit the available screen.

Look beyond the next square

A third side can give your opponent an easy box. Early on, look for edges that leave fewer than three sides around adjacent boxes. Later, one completed square can lead straight to another. Count how many boxes a chain might offer before opening it.

New round asks before replacing an unfinished local game. Play again starts fresh after the result. Gold starts every round. For separate devices, invite your friend; for a solo round, choose the computer. The online guide explains every mode.