Help For Dots and Boxes

Introduction

Welcome to the network Dots and Boxes server. The dots "challenge" command is described here. Other commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

dots challenge [ -size=X ] userid1 userid2 [ ... userid6 ]

Start a new game between the specified users. Up to six users may play together.

The -size option allows you to play on a larger or smaller board. The default size is 7. (-size=7)

At the beginning of the game, the board is randomly seeded with lines, in order to speed up the game.

Rules of Dots and Boxes

Dots and Boxes is an old paper and pencil game.

       A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O 
 
    1  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   1
    2                                  2
    3  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   3
    4                                  4
    5  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   5
    6                                  6
    7  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   7
    8                                  8
    9  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   9
   10                                 10
   11  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +  11
   12                                 12
   13  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +  13
   14                                 14
   15  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +  15
 
       A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O 

Players take turns connecting the dots. If you complete a box (1 unit square), you get a point and may move again.

Moves are simply listed as rc[,rc[..,rc]], where each rc designates a space between two dots.