Strategy games come in many different varieties. Some are abstract, like Stratego or backgammon, which do not have random elements of luck and do not try to simulate reality. Simulation type games like Abalone or Strat-o-matic Baseball are attempting to simulate a real-world situation. Wargames like Axis & Allies, Warhammer, Advanced Squad Leader, Risk or Civilization simulates military battles or wars, often making use of mini-weapons and maps. There are also strategy board games video like Command & Conquer, Total War or Age of Empires that uses real-time strategy or turn-based strategy, as well as military tactics.

When it comes to strategy games, the chess board game is the ultimate! This highly competitive game has been around since the late 15th century and involves a board with 64 squares arranged in an 8 x 8 grid and six independently moving pieces, which are 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops and 8 pawns. The idea of the game is to gain as many opponent pieces as possible and check-mate/capture the king. World championships have been going on since 1886 and a number of computer scientists have worked toward creating programs that can beat human champions. Chess strategies look toward setting up long-term goals by looking ahead. Chess tactics are aimed at immediate maneuvering. Players look at the pawn structure, the key squares on the board, the king’s safety and open pathways. Since there are so many different moves one can make, chess is considered one of the most difficult games to master.
 
Checkers is one of the most classic strategy games of all time. To win the game, players must alternate turns, moving 12 pieces along an 8 x 8 black and red checker board. Each piece can only move and capture diagonally in a forward motion until a piece is “kinged” and given the ability to move forwards and backwards. Pieces are captured by jumping over and the goal is, naturally, to capture all the other player’s pieces. The number of legal positions is estimated to be from 1021 to 1031, compared to chess’s 1043 to 1050. In some cases, with two perfect checkers board game players, the end result can only be a draw. There are a number of strategies employed during game play. Sometimes players can force their opponent to make a jump, thereby putting him or herself in a precarious position. Players can strive to get as many of their pieces “king-ed” as possible for greater mobility, while simultaneously blocking access to their side of the board (where the opponent may be seeking king-worthy spaces).

Strategy games are fun because they give the players something to strive for over time. While each player begins with the same knowledge of the game rules and the moves they can make, the experienced and logically-thinking players will have the advantage. The ability to look ahead, predict one’s opponent’s moves and use both strategy and tactics is essential for the mastering of these games. Many books have been penned about the strategies for classic board games like chess and checkers. Computer games can help players learn the different moves and watch the robot’s moves to ascertain the winning technique. Once a player has become practiced and polished, he or she may play other opponents online or even enter into tournaments, where they can win cash, prizes and fame.

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