Dots and Boxes
Math Concepts
Counting, Squares, Strategy
Materials
Paper and Pencil
Players
2
Set up
Start with a shared piece of paper with an array of dots, say 3 by 4. Pick a player to go first.
Play
On a turn, a player adds a horizontal or vertical line between two neighboring unconnected dots. If this line completes a 1 by 1 square, the player places their initial inside the square and has another turn. A player is not obligated to complete a square. All lines already drawn are available for use by all players.
Goal
When all lines have been placed, the player with the most squares wins.
Discussion and Tips
Discuss strategies that students have developed.
When is it a bad idea to fill in a long run of squares?
For very small grids, are there clear best strategies for the first or second player?
Variations
Larger grids: Use larger grids of points for more challenging games.
Shapes: You can play this with a triangular grid of dots.