Playing simple loony dots and boxes endgames optimally

Abstract

We explain a highly efficient algorithm for playing the simplest type of dots and boxes endgame optimally (by which we mean in such a way so as to maximise the number of boxes that you take ). The algorithm is sufficiently simple that it can be learnt and used in over-the-board games by humans. The types of endgames we solve come up commonly in practice in well-played games on a 5x5 board and were in fact developed by the authors in order to improve their over-the-board play.