The Dots-and-Boxes Game: Sophisticated Child's Play
The Dots-and-Boxes Game: Sophisticated Child's Play Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 1 rules leaflet
- 1 game board
- 195 sticks (plus spare sticks)
- 180 caps in 4 colors
- reserve caps (white)
2 to 4 people can play this game.
Object of the Game
Whoever knows the "cheese box" game that has been played for generations, and is especially popular with schoolchildren, will already be familiar with the principle behind Karree: the aim is to capture the boxes on the game board.
Two Ways to Play
- 2 to 4 people play as individuals.
- 4 people play in two teams, with two players sitting next to each other forming a team.
Setup
First, each player takes the caps of one color; the white caps stay in reserve. They are only brought into play once a player's own caps run out.
Playing the Game
Now the game can begin: in turn, the players place sticks into the grooves of the game board, one stick per player per round. The goal for each player, or team, is to capture as many boxes as possible.
A box counts as captured once all four of its side-grooves are filled with sticks. It belongs to the player who closes its fourth side. That player may place a cap of their color into the captured box as a marker.
When possible, a player may capture several boxes in one round; entire chains often result.
Before the next player's turn, the "conqueror" must still place a stick.
Strategy Note
As you will soon discover, the tactics differ between individual play and team play. In individual play, each player tries to prevent the next player from being able to close a box. In team play, on the other hand, the first player of a team tries to set up opportunities for the second player to capture.
End of the Game
When all the boxes are closed, the players, or teams, count their holdings. The winner is whoever has captured the most boxes.
We wish you great fun!
Printable Worksheet Rules
The following is the rules text of the ClayMaze "Dots and Boxes" printable worksheet (ClayMaze LLC, Printable Activities & Worksheets), reproduced verbatim. The sheet is a pen-and-paper form with a dot grid, not a boxed edition.
Players take turns drawing a single line between two adjacent dots. Lines can go up, down, or sideways. No diagonals.
When the fourth side of a box is drawn, the player claims the box by writing an initial inside and then takes another turn.
Play continues until all boxes on the grid are filled. When no more lines can be drawn, the game ends.