Dots and Boxes

“Sticks” or “Dots and Squares” is a game that only at first glance seems simple and differs little from ordinary tic-tac-toe. But in fact, the difference is huge, and the number of game variations in Sticks is approaching chess, no matter how implausible it may sound.

It is unlikely that a beginner will cope with this game, especially if an experienced player or a computer becomes his opponent. Therefore, the first thing to do is to carefully study and remember the rules on which winning game combinations will be built in the future.

Rules of the game

In this game, there is no clear rule regarding the size of the playing field. It can be 3x3 cells, and 5x5, and 8x8. The more cells, the more time it will take to win.

Although, if a novice player sits at the gaming table, the game will most likely be over quickly, since any wrong move can be a losing one. Therefore, the moves must be carefully thought out and planned in advance.

Starting a game is pointless if you don't know its basic rules. They come down to the following points:

• Within one game move, you can draw only one straight line passing along the edge of any of the cells.
• It is forbidden to draw a line over the same area again.
• When you close the square with lines, it becomes yours, and you can enter your own letter or icon in it.
• The player who closes the next square has the right to one more move.
• As the lines are drawn, there will be less and less room for maneuver on the playing field.
• The player who captures the most squares wins.
• A draw is possible in the game, although this does not happen very often.

During the game, you need not only to form your own (circled) cells, but also to prevent the enemy from doing this. To avoid confusion between the players, each of them draws lines in their own color.

Game hints

In Sticks, not only tactics are important, but also strategy. It is on her that the win in the long run depends, if the playing field exceeds 5 × 5 squares in size. Effective strategies include the following:

• Avoid adding the last (closing) line until the very last moment. The more lines you add to the sides of it, the larger the captured zone will end up being. But at the same time, one should not forget about the possibility of the opponent to block your moves, and in such a strategy it is important to maintain balance.
• Leave your opponent the least amount of room to maneuver. Ideally, try to divide the field with lines into two parts of different sizes. The one who continues to draw lines from the side of the larger area has an obvious advantage over the opponent. There comes a situation which in chess is called "endgame".
• Use a "double crossing" strategy. Take all the boxes in the chain except the last two. When the opponent takes them for himself, he will be forced to make one more (extraordinary) move, and thereby open the next chain. It will take at least 3 more turns to close it, and you will have a strategic advantage.
• If your opponent also uses a "double cross" response, switch to the "sacrifice" tactic. Try to make your opponent open long chains first. If he does not change tactics, this will most likely lead to his defeat.

Thus, in "Stands" you can alternately conduct offensive and defensive actions, which brings them closer to chess in terms of complexity. Unlike tic-tac-toe, where the player who made the first move initially has a tactical advantage, in Sticks the chances of winning are approximately equal - regardless of who made the first move.

When experienced players sit down at the table, their game is reduced to alternately "sacrifice" empty squares in order to force the opponent to make a move that is unfavorable for him. When there is little free space left on the field, each of the moves can be fatal, and here you need to be extremely careful and focused.

In general, Sticks is not a difficult game, although it does require some mental and concentration effort. As with most other logic games, practice is often the deciding factor. You start making moves automatically (from old memory) and easily win even against experienced players.

Start playing Dots and Squares at an easy level. Having understood the rules, you will draw up a game strategy and learn how to win in complex combinations. Relax and develop in the process of an exciting game!