Dots and Boxes, sometimes known as "Dots and Dashes," "Boxes," or "Pigs in a Pen," is a simple game for two or more players, dating back to the 19th century. It was first introduced by French mathematician Édouard Lucas, who called it la pipopipette.
This simple yet engaging game requires nothing more than a writing utensil and a sheet of paper, making it the perfect choice for entertainment on the go. Its charm lies in its versatility; the game can easily be tailored to fit the skill level of any player and any number of players!
With each player striving to claim the most boxes, the game unfolds into a captivating battle of wits that can keep kids and adults alike entertained for hours.
How To Play:
- Start with an empty dot grid. Print out one of our free printables (below) or draw your own
- Each player takes a turn by adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two unjoined adjacent dots.
- When a player closes the fourth side of a 1×1 box, they write their initials in the box. This signifies that they won that box, and it belongs to them. When a player closes a box, they immediately get to take another turn.
- When no more lines can be drawn, the game is over. The player with the most closed boxes wins!
For a quick start to your Dots & Boxes game, print these ready-to-go game boards:
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Want to make the game more challenging?
For expert-level difficulty, use a sheet of graph paper. You don't need to draw in the dots- assume they are present at every corner. Draw your lines on top of the existing printed lines using a dark pen or marker to fully mark your move.
Don't say we didn't warn you... this version of the game could take DAYS to complete as a single sheet of graph paper has more than 500 squares.
