Dots and Boxes rules on ComCom Games
ComCom Games, the online gaming platform for players in Bangladesh, plays Dots and Boxes right inside the platform as a friendly: two players, one grid of dots, against ComCom, our computer player, or a friend. Every rule below is enforced automatically by the server.
- Players
- 2 per game
- Board
- 5 by 5 boxes
- Clock
- 5 min each
- Win
- Most boxes
How does a game of Dots and Boxes start?
- Open Friendlies in your portal and pick Dots and Boxes.
- Play ComCom on Easy, Medium or Hard, and the game starts straight away. Or get an invite link for a friend, and play once you are both ready.
- Whoever started the game draws the first line.
How do you play?
- The board is a grid of 6 by 6 dots, making 25 boxes. Take turns drawing one line between two dots next to each other, across or down.
- Draw the fourth side of a box and it is yours: it fills with your color, and you draw again straight away. One line can close two boxes at once.
- Drawing a line that does not close a box ends your turn.
- A line that is already drawn cannot be drawn again.
How do you win?
When every box is closed, whoever has more boxes wins. There are 25 boxes, an odd number, so there is never a draw. For the trick strong players use at the end of a game, see How to play Dots and Boxes.
How does the clock work?
Each player has 5 minutes for the whole game, and only your own thinking time counts down. Your clock keeps running if you close the tab or lose your connection, and reconnecting puts you straight back into the game. If your clock reaches zero, you lose on time.
What happens if a player resigns or leaves?
- Resigning ends the game as a loss for the player who resigns.
- Pressing Exit during a game also ends it as a loss. Both ask you to confirm first.
- Closing the tab is not a forfeit: your clock just keeps running until you come back or run out of time.
Does it pay ComCom Coins?
Yes. A win earns ComCom Coins, up to a daily limit, like every friendly, and counts on the Friendlies tab of the Leaderboard. Dots and Boxes is a friendly only, with no tournaments for now.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Dots and Boxes end in a draw on ComCom Games?
- No. The board has 25 boxes, an odd number, so one player always has more.
- Do I get another turn after closing a box?
- Yes. Close a box and you draw again straight away, for as long as you keep closing boxes.
- How long do I have in a Dots and Boxes game?
- 5 minutes for the whole game, counting only your own thinking time. If your clock runs out, you lose on time.
Ready to play Dots and Boxes?
Play Dots and Boxes as a friendly, any time.