The goal
Players take turns drawing lines between dots. Whoever completes the fourth side of a 1×1 box claims it. When every box is claimed, the player with the most boxes wins.
On your turn
Draw a single horizontal or vertical line connecting two adjacent dots (no diagonals). Then play passes to the next player — unless you just completed a box.
Claiming a box
If your line completes the fourth side of a box, write your initial inside it to claim it — and then take another turn immediately. Completing several boxes in a row with bonus turns is how big leads happen.
- You must move again after completing a box, even if you’d rather not.
- A single line can complete two boxes at once; you still take just one extra turn.
Strategy: the chain
Good players avoid drawing the third side of any box, since that hands a free box to the opponent. Late in the game the board breaks into "chains" of boxes — the trick is to give away the smallest chain and force your opponent to open the bigger ones. Sacrificing two boxes to win four is a common winning move.
Winning
When no more lines can be drawn, count each player’s claimed boxes. Most boxes wins. A bigger grid makes for a longer, more tactical game — bump the grid size up once you’ve got the hang of it.