Stratego

Stratego is a game for two people.

Each player has 40 pieces. The pieces have numbers on them. You use these numbers to show power.

One player uses red pieces. The other player uses blue pieces. You must hide your pieces from your friend. You win by finding the other person's flag. You can also win by taking all their pieces. It is a game of secrets and smart plans.

Stratego is a game of secrets and smart plans.

Two players face off on a large board. Each player has 40 pieces. One player uses red pieces. The other player uses blue pieces.

You must keep your pieces a secret. You place them on the board with the numbers facing down. This way, your friend does not know your strength.

Most pieces move one step at a time. They can move up, down, left, or right. A Scout is special. It can move many spaces in a straight line. Some pieces cannot move at all. These are the Bombs and the Flag.

To win, you must find the enemy Flag. You can also win by taking all their moving pieces. When you move into an enemy piece, you strike. Both players show their numbers. The piece with the higher rank wins. If the ranks are the same, both pieces are removed.

Some pieces have special powers. A Spy is very weak. But a Spy can capture the powerful Marshal. A Miner is also important. It is the only piece that can defuse a Bomb.

This game is about more than just moving. It is about guessing what your opponent is hiding.

Stratego is a famous strategy board game for two players.

It feels a lot like chess, but it has a big twist. In chess, you can see all the pieces. In Stratego, much of the game is a secret. Players must use smart plans and even a little bit of guessing to win. This makes the game feel like a battle of wits and psychology. You are not just moving pieces; you are trying to figure out what your opponent is hiding.

To play, you set up an army of 40 pieces on a 10x10 grid. One player uses red pieces and the other uses blue. You place your pieces in a 4x10 block at your end of the board. Most importantly, you place them with the ranks facing down. This way, your opponent cannot see which piece is which. You cannot place pieces in the center of the board, where two 2x2 areas represent lakes. These lakes act as choke points to change how the armies move.

Players take turns moving one piece at a time. Most pieces move only one step at a time, either up, down, left, or right. A special piece called a Scout can move many spaces in a straight line. When you move into a space held by an enemy, you perform a strike. Both players reveal their piece's rank to see who wins. The higher rank stays on the board, while the lower rank is removed. If the ranks are equal, both pieces are taken out of the game.

Some pieces have very special jobs that can change the whole game. The Flag is the most important piece, but it cannot move. If an opponent captures your Flag, they win immediately. There are also six Bombs that stay still and destroy any piece that hits them. Only a Miner can defuse a Bomb safely. Then there is the Spy, which is the weakest piece. However, a Spy can capture the powerful Marshal if it strikes first.

The history of the game is quite long. Stratego is a modified version of a French game called L'Attaque. The name Stratego comes from the Greek word "strategos," which means a leader of an army. The name was first registered in the Netherlands in 1942. Since then, it has been played all over the world. It has been in Europe since World War II and in the United States since 1961. Today, there is even an International Stratego Federation that hosts world championships.

Stratego is a complex strategy board wargame designed for two players.

It utilizes a 10×10 grid of squares to simulate a battlefield. Each player manages an army consisting of 40 unique pieces. These pieces represent various officer and soldier ranks through a specific numbering scheme. The pieces often feature Napoleonic insignia to reinforce the military theme. Unlike chess, where all pieces are visible, Stratego relies on imperfect information. This means players must use psychology, bluffing, and deduction to succeed. The primary objective is to capture the opponent's Flag. Alternatively, a player wins by capturing all movable enemy pieces to prevent further moves.

To begin, players choose colors, typically red and blue.

Each player arranges their 40 pieces into a 4×10 configuration at their end of the board. A critical rule is that ranks must be printed on only one side. Pieces are placed facing down so opponents cannot identify them. Players are forbidden from placing pieces in the center of the board. This area contains two 2×2 zones that represent lakes. These lakes serve as impassable choke points that force direct frontal assaults. The initial setup is a vital strategic phase that influences the entire game.

Gameplay follows a turn-based structure where players alternate moves.

Red typically moves first, though this does not significantly impact the outcome. On each turn, a player must move exactly one piece. Most pieces move only one step vertically or horizontally. Diagonal movement is not permitted for standard ranks. The Scout is a notable exception to this rule. A Scout can move any number of spaces in a straight line. However, it cannot leap over other pieces or the lake zones. In modern versions, a Scout can move and strike in the same turn.

Combat occurs through a process called a "strike." A player initiates a strike by moving their piece onto a square occupied by an opponent.

Both players then reveal the rank of their respective pieces. The piece with the higher rank wins the engagement. The losing piece is removed from the board. If both pieces possess an equal rank, both are removed from play. Some pieces possess specialized abilities that override standard rank hierarchies. For example, the Spy is the weakest piece but can capture the Marshal. Conversely, the Bomb is an immobile piece that destroys most attacking units.

The army is divided into immobile and mobile pieces. Each player has seven immobile pieces: six Bombs and one Flag. The remaining 33 pieces are mobile. The ranks follow a strict hierarchy from the Marshal down to the Spy.

The Marshal is the most powerful piece, while the Spy is the weakest. Miners serve a specialized role by being the only pieces capable of defusing Bombs. The ranks were historically numbered differently depending on the region. In original United States versions, the Marshal was rank 1. In versions released after 2000, the numbering was inverted, making the Marshal rank 10.

Stratego has a rich history tied to earlier tabletop games. It is a modified version of an early 20th-century French game called L'Attaque. The name "Stratego" is derived from the Greek word *strategos*, meaning a leader of an army.

The trademark was first registered in the Netherlands in 1942. It has been produced in Europe since World War II. The game reached the United States in 1961. Some historians note similarities to Japanese Military Chess, known as Gunjin Shogi, which has been played since 1895. These connections highlight a long tradition of military-themed strategy gaming.

The game's complexity is reflected in its mathematical possibilities. An average game lasts approximately 381 moves. There are 10,115 legal positions possible on the board. Furthermore, the number of possible games is estimated at 10^535.

These figures demonstrate a depth far exceeding games like backgammon. While a single error in chess can lead to immediate loss, Stratego players often think in "games, not moves." This perspective allows for long-term planning despite the uncertainty of hidden ranks. Today, the International Stratego Federation even sponsors an annual World Championship.