Paper Dots & Boxes

Take turns drawing a line between two dots. Close the fourth side of a box and it is yours — and you go again. When the grid is full, whoever owns the most boxes wins. That is the whole game, and it is far deeper than it looks. PLAY AGAINST A REAL OPPONENT The computer is three levels of actual foresight, not three fudge factors: Easy — takes any box it can see, and otherwise plays at random. Medium — understands that opening a chain costs you. It plays only lines that give nothing away, and when it runs out of safe moves it opens the cheapest run it can find. Hard — counts chains, declines the last two boxes to keep control, and solves the endgame exactly once the board is small enough. It will double-cross you. OR PASS AND PLAY Two players, one device, no account and no waiting. BOARDS TO SUIT THE GAME 3x3 for a quick round through to 6x6 for something that takes real planning. LEARN THE TRICK THAT DECIDES GAMES Closing a box forces you to move again, so greed backfires. Handing over a short chain early often wins you a long one later — and the double-cross turns a losing chain into control of the board. The built-in rules screen explains it properly, including the move most people never find on their own.