Hobbies And Interests
Logic and Reasoning
Games of logic provide critical-thinking practice and include Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, Clue, and Chess, to name a few. Tic-Tac-Toe is a simple game in which players use a three-by-three grid to mark either an "X" or an "O" in one of the available spaces. Players alternate turns after deciding whether they will use "Xs" or "Os." The first player to get three of their letter in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line wins. If neither player can, the game is a draw. In Checkers, two players use an eight-by-eight board and use 12 solid-colored discs set up on either side. Players move their discs one space at a time in an attempt to capture his or her opponent's discs. Play ends when one player has captured all of his opponent's discs or has forced them into an un-winnable situation. Clue allows players to assume the role of a detective by attempting to solve a murder-mystery case. The murderer is anonymously decided through Clue cards, which also reveal where and with what weapon the murder was committed. Players then strategically move around the game board while making suggestions to other players and collecting clues, which can be used to deduct who the murderer is. Play ends when a player successfully deduces in what room and with what weapon a suspect committed the murder. In Chess, each player begins with sixteen pieces, including one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. Players use these pieces, which are restricted to moving in certain ways, to capture opponents' pieces. A player wins by moving her pieces in such a way that their opponent cannot move the king without being captured, which is called "checkmate."
Word Games
Word games focus on spelling and vocabulary. Some of the more notable word games include Scrabble, Boggle and Bananagrams. Scrabble is a word game wherein players earn points by forming words with letters on a game board. After each player makes his or her first word, they must connect future words to pre-existing words using available letters. Words that use less commonly-used letters are given a higher score. Players can also place words strategically on the board to gain bonus points as indicated on the game board. Play ends when all letters are used up or when six scoreless-turns have occurred. In Boggle, players shake a covered four-by-four tray with 16-lettered dice and set it down. All players simultaneously use the face-up letters to make as many words consisting of at least three letters as they can in three minutes. Words must be constructed using adjacent "neighboring" letters. Scores are awarded based on the number of words created and the number of letters used to make those words. The player with the highest score wins.
Bananagrams consists of 144 lettered tiles, which are placed face-down at the beginning of play. All players begin play by drawing the same amount of tiles until one player, at any time, calls "Split!" Players then turn their tiles up and begin forming words horizontally or vertically using the tiled-letters until a player uses all of his or her tiles, who then says "Peel!" Players then draw from the remaining tiles, called the "bunch." Play continues in this fashion until all available tiles are used. At this point, the first player to place all of his tiles into his word grid calls out "Bananas!" and wins.
Strategy
Strategy games allow players to plan ahead and devise tactics to win. Some notable strategy games include Connect Four, Risk and Stratego. Connect Four is played by dropping colored discs into a seven-column, six-row grid that is vertically suspended. Two players alternate turns by dropping a colored disc into the grid until one player is able to place four of his or her discs in a diagonal, horizontal or vertical row. In Risk, players attempt to capture territories from other players until "world domination" is attained. Players begin by drafting troops using "Risk" cards and other methods and then distributing them around the game board in territories they occupy. Players can then attack other players in an attempt to "take over" territory, which is dependent on the outcome of a dice roll. Bonus reinforcements are awarded to players who take over entire continents. Play ends when one player has control of every territory. Stratego features a 10-by-10 square board wherein two players are given 40 game pieces, which represent different entities of an army. Players arrange their pieces, which have different purposes and abilities, in any manner and facing toward themselves so the opponent cannot see. Players then alternate turns by moving their pieces and attacking opponents' pieces in an attempt to capture the "flag" piece. Play ends when a player captures the other's flag, regardless of how many pieces that player has left.
Chance/For Fun
Games that rely heavily on random chance and luck often have some elements of skill. Some games in this category include Battleship, Monopoly and Life. Battleship is played by two players who place different sized ships in various locations on a game grid. Players alternate turns by announcing where on the grid they "attack." The opponent must announce whether or not the attack hit any of his or her vessels. If a vessel is hit to capacity, it is sunk and removed from the grid. Play continues until a player has sunk all of his or her opponent's vessels, who is announced the winner.
In Monopoly, players take turns rolling a die and landing on various properties. If they are unowned, player may buy them. If they are already owned, the player must pay the owner of the property a sum of money depending on how "developed" the property is. Players may develop their properties by adding houses or hotels to them using money. Play continues until one player has forced all others into bankruptcy with his or her properties and assets. Life is played by spinning a numbered wheel and moving across a game board. The spaces players land on determine what events in their "life" unfold, such as getting married, having kids and enduring natural disasters. Play ends when players reach the end of the game board and "retire." The player who retires with the most money is the winner.