Daba Khel is the game from the back page of every school notebook. A grid of dots, two pencils, and one rule: close a box and it's yours. It looks childish until someone hands you a long chain and takes seven boxes in one go.
Here are the Dots and Boxes rules as Mandli plays them, a few tips that separate the chain-givers from the chain-takers, and how to play it online with friends. Up to 6 people can play on one grid, and the voice chat inside the game is made for "arre, tune mujhe chain de di!"
Kya chahiye: Just phones. No notebook, no pencil, no rubbing out.
Rules: kaise khelte hain
The grid
The board is a grid of dots. Mandli picks the size by player count: 5x5 boxes for 2 or 3 players, 7x7 boxes for 4 to 6 players. The host can choose any size from 4x4 to 8x8. A 5x5 grid has 60 lines to draw, a 7x7 grid has 112.
Your turn: one line
On your turn, draw one line between two neighbouring dots, across or down. No diagonals. You have 15 seconds for each line.
Close a box, go again
If your line completes the fourth side of a box (daba), the box gets your colour and you must draw again. One line can close two boxes at once, and you still just get one more line. You keep going as long as you keep closing boxes.
End of the game
The game ends when every line is drawn. Whoever owns the most boxes wins.
When time runs out
If you don't draw in time, the app draws for you, the way a careful player would: a line that doesn't hand anyone a box if one exists, else a line that closes a box. Three timeouts in a row and the app keeps playing for you until you tap again.
Points kaise milte hain
Places go by boxes owned. 1st gets 20 points, 2nd gets 10 (with 3 or more players) and 3rd gets 5 (with 5 or more). Every player who closed at least one box gets 1 extra point. Tied players share the points of the places they cover, split evenly and rounded up, so a 2-player draw gives 10 each. Points carry across games in the same room.
Jeetne ke tips
- Early on, never draw the third side of a box. That hands the box to the next player.
- Late in the game every move gives something away. Give away the shortest chain you can.
- When you take a long chain, you can stop two boxes short and leave them for your opponent, so they must open the next chain for you. Experts call it a double-cross.
- Count the chains out loud on voice. It is surprising how often the room spots what you missed.
- A bigger grid rewards patience. With 6 players, stay out of trouble early and wait for the chains.
Ghar wale rules aur variants
Some people play that closing a box does not give another line. Mandli always gives you another line when you close a box, and you must take it.
On paper you write your initial in the box. Mandli fills the box with your colour and your initial automatically.
Some people draw rectangles or odd shapes on paper. Mandli uses square grids from 4x4 to 8x8.
Daba Khel online kaise khelein
Make a room in Mandli, send the link on WhatsApp or show the QR code, and pick Daba Khel. Friends without the app join from the browser link. Up to 6 play on one grid; anyone else watches, taps reactions and waits their turn, and the winner stays for the next game. The host sets the grid size or leaves it on Auto. Lines have big tap targets, so small phones are fine. In Saath mode you play side by side and talk out loud. In Door mode, the voice chat inside the game lets you hear exactly who just gave away a chain. If your internet drops, your seat is held for 60 seconds.
Sawaal jawaab
What are the rules of Dots and Boxes?
Take turns drawing one line between two neighbouring dots. If your line closes a box, it's yours and you draw again. When all lines are drawn, most boxes wins.
Do you get another turn after closing a box?
Yes, in Mandli you must draw another line every time you close a box, even if you closed two boxes with one line.
Can more than 2 people play Dots and Boxes?
Yes. Mandli supports 2 to 6 players on one grid, and uses a bigger 7x7 grid by default for 4 or more.
What is the trick to winning Dots and Boxes?
Avoid drawing the third side of any box, and near the end make sure your opponents are the ones forced to open the long chains.
Can I play Dots and Boxes online with friends for free?
Yes. Mandli is free, has no ads and needs no login. Share the room link on WhatsApp and play with voice chat inside the game.