Dots and Boxes: how to win more boxes

Dots and Boxes is a classic pencil-and-paper game. Players take turns drawing a line between two neighbouring dots. Whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it — and plays again. When all the lines are drawn, the player with more boxes wins. In Cochon Ranch Evolved the dots are fence posts and the boxes are paddocks full of pigs, but the rules are exactly the same.

1. Never draw the third side

The first rule is simple: do not draw the third side of a box, because your opponent will draw the fourth and take it. At the start of the game there are plenty of safe lines; use them.

2. Take free boxes — usually

When your opponent leaves a box with three sides, take it. Because you play again after every box, one free box can lead to many more in a row.

3. Think in chains

Sooner or later, every safe line is used up and someone has to give boxes away. By then the board has split into chains — rows of boxes connected so that taking one opens the next. Whoever is forced to open a chain gives all of its boxes to the other player. So the middle game is about one question: who will have to open the first long chain? Try to make the opponent run out of safe moves first.

4. Give away short chains first

When you must open something, open the shortest chain — one or two boxes — and keep the long chains for later. Losing one box is much better than losing six.

5. The double-cross trick

Here is the trick that wins close games. When your opponent opens a long chain for you, take all the boxes except the last two. Then, instead of taking those two, draw the line at the far end that leaves them as a pair for your opponent. Your opponent takes the two boxes — and must then open the next chain for you. You give away two boxes to keep control of the game, and take the bigger chains that follow.

6. Count before you give

Before giving boxes away, count the chains on the board. If taking everything now would leave you to open the biggest remaining chain, the double-cross is worth it. If not, take all the boxes.

Practise step by step

Cochon Ranch Evolved has computer farmers from Rookie to Pro. Start with the Rookie, practise not drawing third sides, then try counting chains, and finally the double-cross.

Play Cochon Ranch Evolved and pen in more pigs than your opponent.