Strategy guides

Tactics, odds and common mistakes for every game on the site, for beginners and for players who already know the rules well.

  • Idiot

    Get rid of every card. The last one still holding cards is the Idiot.

    2–4 players · Cards
  • Spades

    Bid your tricks with a partner. Spades are always trump.

    4 players, computer fills empty seats · Cards
  • Uno

    Match the color or the number and empty your hand first.

    2–6 players · Cards
  • Go Fish

    Ask for ranks and collect books of four.

    2–4 players · Cards
  • Yahtzee

    Five dice, three rolls, thirteen boxes to fill.

    1–4 players · Dice
  • Connect 4

    Drop discs and line up four before your opponent does.

    2 players · Board
  • Triangles

    Join the dots and close more triangles than your opponent.

    2 players · Board
  • Tic-Tac-Toe

    Three in a row on a three-by-three grid.

    2 players · Board
  • Solitaire

    Klondike, draw one or three. Build each suit from ace to king.

    1 player · Cards
  • Spit

    A race to empty your stacks onto the two center piles.

    2 players, against the computer · Cards
  • Farkle

    Push your luck with six dice. First to 10,000.

    1 player · Dice
  • Sudoku

    Fill the grid so every row, column and box holds 1 to 9.

    1 player · Puzzle
  • Minesweeper

    Clear the field using the numbers. Three board sizes.

    1 player · Puzzle

Why strategy matters

Luck plays a part in many games, but strategy is what turns casual play into consistent wins. The guides explain the tactics behind each game, the patterns worth recognising and how to make better decisions.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player looking for advanced techniques, the advice is practical and you can use it in your next game.

Habits for any game

  1. 1

    Think ahead

    Don’t just weigh the move in front of you. Look two or three moves ahead, expect your opponent’s reply, and keep a backup plan.

  2. 2

    Learn from mistakes

    Every loss teaches something. After a game, ask what went wrong: did you miss a move, or did your opponent use a tactic you didn’t see coming?

  3. 3

    Practice regularly

    Regular play builds pattern recognition, so you spot chances and threats sooner. Ten or fifteen minutes a day makes a difference.

A way to learn

  1. 1

    Start with the basics

    Make sure you know the rules completely. Read the rules pages first if you haven’t already.

  2. 2

    Read a strategy guide

    Choose a game and read its guide through. Start with the beginner tips, then move on to the advanced tactics as you improve.

  3. 3

    Apply what you learn

    Try one new idea per session rather than everything at once.

  4. 4

    Master one game first

    Rather than learning several games at the same time, get good at one. The habits carry over to the others.

Ready to put it into practice?

Choose a game and try one idea from its guide.

All games