Sprouts

Sprouts is similar to Boxes. Although the rules are easy, it is quite difficult to win consistently.

Age: All ages

No. of players: 2

Equipment: Two pens/pencils; One piece of paper

Time: 10 minutes+

Aim: To be the last player to draw a legitimate line.

1. Players take turns acting as Player One. There is no real advantage for a player to go first or second in this game.

2. Player One draws six random dots spread out on the piece of paper (the six black dots in the diagram below).

3. Players take it in turns to draw a line (straight or curved) between any two dots, with the following rules:

a) No line may cross any other line
b) Every new line has a dot placed anywhere along it by the player who drew the line
c) No dot can be joined to more than three lines

4. The winner is the last player to draw a line according to the rules.

5. The game can be played as long as both players are willing to play, but each new game should start on a fesh sheet of paper to avoid confusion.