The Dots and Boxes Game

by Elwyn R. Berlekamp

The game of Dots-and-Boxes, the popular game in which two players take turns connecting an array of dots to form squares, or "boxes" has long been considered merely a child's game. In this book, however, the author reveals the surprising complexity of the game, along with advanced strategies that will allow the reader to win at any level of gameplay desired. This book is an essential guide to the game of Dots-and-Boxes and its mathematical underpinnings. Chapters of strategy are interspersed with dozens of sample problems and their solutions. Furthermore, the strategies can be applied to several other games, such as Strings-and-Coins and Nimstring.

Genres: Games, Mathematics, Reference

Paperback

First published July 18, 2000

About the author

Elwyn Ralph Berlekamp was a professor emeritus of mathematics and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He was known for his work in information theory and combinatorial game theory.

Reviews

[Jeremy Bagai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disaster! Deep analysis of a beautifully simple/complex game that everyone has played. Could've / should've been the book to bring game theory to many generations.

But it is impossible to follow, even for someone trained in the material. Problems consistently rely upon concepts not yet covered in text. Solutions are impenetrable.

A tragedy.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophisticated indeed. I barely understood anything after the first chapter.