Turn a chain into a loop. Since loops are "2" and chains are "1", turning a chain into a loop or a loop into a chain causes the count to change by "1". This makes an even number odd, or an odd number even. If you are the follower, try to alter the count by converting a loop into a chain or a chain into a loop. If you are the leader, try to prevent the follower from doing this to you.
Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes you can use this to your advantage. If you are the follower, you can sometimes take the opportunity to give a chain away early. If your opponent forgets to sacrifice the two boxes at the end, the count will drop by 1 which can sometimes result in victory if your sacrifice did not give away too many boxes. To avoid excessive sacrifices, pick the smallest chains to sacrifice. Y-Chains are complicated as there is more than one branch that can be considered a chain.
When you get a chain that branches off in multiple directions first look at the splitting point. Count "1" for the base and one of the branches, count another "1" for each additional branch. Most Y-Chain will count as "2" since there will be one base and branch with one additional branch. It is very important you only consider chains within a Y-Chain. Y-Chains are when a long chain has a small chain branching off of it. Sometimes more than one. Sometimes if there is more than one branch, consider the possibility that the Y-Chain can be broken in the middle making only 2 regular chains.
Without considering this possibility you might think the Y-Chain is worth "3" since it has 2 branches. But if it is broken in the middle, leaving only 2 chains, then it is worth "2". Y-Loops are similar to Y-Chains but instead of multiple chain branches, Y-Loops have branches that loop. This makes counting the final score early troublesome. A loop and a chain suggest a count of "3" but depending on where the follower places the line, you might need to sacrifice or you might be able to take it all.
When you encounter a Y-Loop, the loop is always the base and branch which counts as "2" followed by the count of the chains that branch off of it. Similar to the Y-Chain, if there are 2 or more chains branching off of it, there is a possibility of cutting the Y-Loop by sacrificing 1 or 2 boxes within the loop and creating one large chain. This would reduce a Y-Loop with a value of "4" to a chain with a value of "1" which can drastically change the final score.
If you are the follower, you want as many boxes as possible to make up for losing the chains. In the even that you are facing a Y-Loop, always sacrifice the branch chain first, then the loop. This way, you get 2 boxes for the chain, and if there are other chains on the board, you might get 4 boxes for the loop if your opponent sacrifices them.
You control the number of chains available on the board based on a simple mathematical rule: If there have an odd number of total dots 5x5 board, 9x9, etc. The second player wins if there are an even number. If there are an even number of dots 4x4 board, 6x6, etc. The second player wins if there are an odd number of chains.
Think about cordoning off sections of the board when trying to force the right number of chains. While the rule above is helpful in theory, you actually have to know how to set-up the right number of chains to make it work.
To do this, consider that most chains take up large, continuous areas of the board -- sections, not randomly snaking lines. Instead of making specific chains, make specific areas. For a 5x5 example board, remember that the first player for this example, Red wants an odd number of chains: Red should try to split the board into three parts by creating a "hallway" of boxes down the center of the board, either horizontally or vertically.
This then creates a middle chain and two chains on either side -- three total -- for a Red win. Blue should try to cut the board in half, with 1 chain on each side. This allows an even number of chains -- two -- and a Blue win.
Sacrifice a chain to reset the count if you're pre-determined to lose. Continuing with the 5x5 example where Red goes first and wants an odd number of chains , imagine there are three chains on the board, meaning Blue will lose.
However, if Blue has at least 1 more box then Red, she can still tie the game, and she can win if they're up 3 boxes or more. To do so, you give up a chain before you're forced to, but you do so in a way that cuts the chain into two separate chains -- giving blue an even number of chains remaining and a new chance to win. You give up the first chain, yes -- but you also minimize the long-term damage.
Remember this only works if there is another option available that doesn't give up a chain -- a two-sided box you can safely draw a line in after cutting the chain up. If you must respond to this scenario as Red, you have two options -- take the chain or leave the boxes for Blue later. If the game is early on, sacrifice the boxes. If you're near the end and it's close, take them and keep moving. Any size grid will do.
It may influence strategy, but rules and scoring are unchanged. Not Helpful 0 Helpful Can I leave a potential box open for the other player just to gain more boxes from this move? Not Helpful 8 Helpful 9. If the opponent wins, they win. You can play again, or admit defeat. Most times, if you do another round, do a third, or any other odd numbered amount, this will assure only 1 winner.
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Use any bit of scrap paper available to make the grid. It's a great way to use up the back of used paper before recycling it. Helpful 18 Not Helpful 9. When you're feeling confident enough, draw grids in non-rectangular shapes, such as using hexagons or triangles! You don't have to play with only a squares.
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1. Dots and Boxes has classically been played on paper using pencils. Lucas called it La Pipopipette. Gametable is an upcoming interactive entertainment company for the desktop and mobile world. We currently have three free online games- dots and boxes , checkers , and tic tac toe. We're actively developing more fun titles by the day.
We're offering ad-free online games for a limited time so pull up a chair to the game table today! Whoever closes a box which draws the last side of it will get an "X" with his color in the box and plays again. NB: the boxes located around the edges of the paper are closed at the third line and not at the fourth. You can add or remove as many players you want from the following Array , please make sure to add a different color for each player and to keep the last value as true for the player that will be the first play and false to others.
You can read more about this game from Wikipedia. Skip to content. Star 3. Branches Tags.
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