2. Scope Out Your Board
Dots is a timed game that’s about set-up. In order to do your best, you’ll need a bit of luck and patience. Instead of playing out every game, take a second to look over your board. Consider the following:
- Are there clusters of concentrated color?
- Is one color overrepresented?
- Are there squares ready to go?
3. Look For the Set-Ups
You won’t always get squares right off the bat but don’t use that as a reason to restart your game. There are three “near square” moves you should keep in mind: the puppy, the hamburger and the step ladder. Each set-up is one move away from being a square.
 With the step ladder, take out the blue dots below preventing you from making the square. |
 With the hamburger, swipe away the purple row in your way. |
 With the puppy, if you use the booster the shrinker, you will be able to remove the infringing green dot. |
4. Keep Calm
A timer can make you hasty and careless. You’re more worried about how there are only 23 seconds left than about the two hamburgers already set up on your screen. Remember to stay calm when you’re playing, be willing to take a second to look over your whole board and scope out moves. You are your own greatest enemy!