Understanding the Mechanics of Stratego

A spy finds himself deep in hostile territory. As enemy troops approach, he stealthily targets a marshal, the most formidable piece in his opponent's lineup, aiming for a decisive capture. Will this covert operation shift the balance, or will the spy face a fatal outcome?

Despite the intense pressure, this battle unfolds on a compact 10-by-10 grid. Stratego, true to its name, emphasizes tactical maneuvering of your army's pieces to seize the opponent's flag and secure victory, all while safeguarding your own flag. Tailored for two players aged 8 and above, a typical game of Stratego lasts around an hour.

Although the game's goal appears simple, it’s far from just randomly moving pieces across the board in hopes of capturing enemy territory or stumbling upon the flag. Each move carries risk, as your opponent’s piece ranks remain concealed. This uncertainty means you won’t know if your piece will be overpowered, taken as a prisoner of war, and eliminated from play. However, every attack, win or lose, reveals the rank of the opposing piece, and remembering these ranks can be crucial for future encounters. No matter your approach, you’ll have ample opportunities to refine your tactics as you face off against skilled Stratego opponents.

Stratego first appeared in the United States during the 1960s (we’ll explore its history in more detail later). Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke nostalgia for those who played it in their youth while offering a fresh challenge to newcomers.

Stratego has transcended family game nights to become a global competitive event, with tournaments like the Stratego World Championships attracting players worldwide [source: International Stratego Federation]. Beyond entertainment, the game has found innovative applications. For instance, it has been shown to aid children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a nervous system condition that complicates processing sequences or systems. Playing Stratego helps these children develop critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and strategic planning skills—all while pursuing the enemy’s flag [source: Smith].

History of Stratego

Stratego's origins trace back to a cross-continental journey, sharing striking similarities with a French game from the early 20th century. In 1908, Hermance Edan filed a patent for an unnamed battlefield game featuring two opposing armies. By 1910, a game matching this description, named L'Attaque, was marketed in France, complete with French and British army pieces [source: Collins]. By the 1920s, L'Attaque had reached Great Britain, sold by H.P. Gibsons and Sons in London [source: Gibsons Games].

While debates persist about L'Attaque's influence on Stratego, court documents from a 2005 licensing dispute between Hasbro and the creator of a similar game, Strategy, identify Jacques Johan Mogendorff as Stratego's inventor, dating its creation to sometime before 1942. Mogendorff and his family were imprisoned in a Dutch concentration camp in 1943, later moved to a German camp in 1944, and finally liberated in 1945.

In 1946, Mogendorff granted a license for Stratego to the Dutch firm Smeets and Schippers. Later, in 1958, he licensed the game to Hausemann and Hotte for European distribution, followed by a global license in 1959. After Mogendorff's death in 1961, Hausemann and Hotte acquired the copyright and U.S. trademark from his heirs, sublicensing it to Milton Bradley (later part of Hasbro) for U.S. production and sales. Milton Bradley also secured additional copyrights for supplementary materials like the game board and instructions.

Court records from the 2005 lawsuit revealed that Stratego allegedly infringed on the copyright for Strategy, though the case was eventually dismissed. By the time of dismissal, Hasbro had sold over 10 million copies of Stratego in the U.S. and paid over $5 million in royalties to Hausemann and Hotte [source: Estate of Gunter Sigmund Elkan v. Hasbro].

Stratego Setup

To achieve mastery in Stratego, you must first familiarize yourself with the ranks and roles of your army. Upon opening the game, you’ll find 40 red and 40 blue army pieces, a game board, and, in newer editions, a fortress screen.

Each army consists of seven stationary pieces—six bombs and one flag—that remain fixed after initial placement. Additionally, there are 33 mobile pieces that can traverse the board and engage in attacks. Each piece bears a numerical rank, with higher numbers indicating greater power (except in older or nostalgic versions, as noted earlier). The three lowest-ranked pieces possess unique abilities. According to [source: Hasbro], the ranks are as follows:

Before setting up the game, you and your opponent must determine which army each will command. To decide, conceal a red piece in one hand and a blue piece in the other, then let your opponent choose a hand. The color they select will be their army for the game, leaving you with the other. (This decision is crucial, as the red army always moves first.)

Position the game board between you and your opponent, ensuring the word 'Stratego' faces each player. Take turns setting up your pieces, or use a solid screen (like the included fortress screen in some versions) to block your opponent's view. Only one piece can occupy a square at a time, and initially, your pieces must be placed within the four rows closest to you. (We’ll delve into strategic piece placement in the next section.)

Once both armies are positioned, remove any screen and prepare for the red army to make the first move. Players alternate turns, with each turn requiring either moving a piece to an adjacent empty space or attacking an adjacent opponent’s piece. Note that you cannot both move and attack in the same turn (with one exception we’ll discuss later), and diagonal moves are prohibited in all cases.

Stratego Gameplay

As the battle unfolds on your Stratego board, it’s time to strategize your attacks. Remember, only one piece can be moved per turn, so careful planning is essential before making each move.

To position your piece for an attack, move it adjacent to an opponent’s piece. Pieces cannot jump over others or traverse the lakes in the center of the board, so reaching an attack position may require multiple turns. The only instance a piece can force its way into an occupied space is during an attack. Tap your opponent’s piece to initiate the confrontation. Both players reveal their piece ranks—if your piece is defeated, it’s removed from the board. If victorious, it occupies the opponent’s space, and their piece is eliminated. If ranks are equal, both pieces are removed.

However, there are exceptions to the standard movement and rank rules. Scouts, miners, and spies each possess unique abilities.

Scouts can traverse multiple open spaces in one direction and attack in the same turn. Despite their low rank of 2, scouts can only defeat spies. They are invaluable for strategic maneuvers—whether sacrificing themselves to reveal an opponent’s piece, swiftly eliminating low-ranking threats, or capturing an undefended flag.

Miners are crucial assets as they can safely defuse and remove your opponent’s bombs from the board. When a miner disarms a bomb, it takes the bomb’s former position. All other pieces, however, will be destroyed upon encountering an enemy bomb.

The spy is uniquely dangerous—if it avoids capture. However, the risk of becoming a prisoner of war is high, as every other ranked piece can capture it. Its sole advantage is the ability to attack and eliminate the marshal, but only if the spy initiates the attack. If the marshal attacks the spy, the spy is captured.

Stratego Tips and Strategies

Careful initial placement of your pieces is crucial, as your early-game strategy can shape the entire match. Position a mix of scouts and high-ranking pieces in the front rows near the enemy. Scouts, due to their low rank, can be sacrificed to uncover the location of your opponent’s powerful pieces. Placing strong pieces in the front row allows you to intercept enemy scouts as they advance. However, avoid sending these valuable pieces deep into enemy territory early on, as you risk losing them to unknown threats or bombs.

Be strategic with bomb placement. While planning how bombs can hinder your opponent, remember they can also block your own troops. Since pieces cannot jump over others, poor bomb placement might trap your units, leaving them immobilized.

Your spy, despite its low rank, is invaluable for its ability to eliminate a marshal. Shield your spy by positioning a general nearby. The general’s high rank can defend the spy from most enemy pieces—except the marshal. If the marshal captures your general, your spy can then retaliate and take out the marshal.

As the game unfolds, closely observe your opponent’s army movements. Their actions can reveal their ranks—scouts move multiple spaces, while bombs and flags remain stationary. Keep track of revealed ranks during attacks, using this information to plan your strategic moves [source: Hasbro].

To deceive your opponent, cluster three bombs away from your flag, making them appear as guards. Alternatively, leave a mid-ranked piece stationary among bombs; your opponent may mistake it for a bomb or flag and be caught off guard when it attacks. Another bluffing tactic is to play aggressively with a low-ranked piece, chasing your opponent even if it risks capture.

Variations on Stratego

Looking to add more complexity to Stratego? Experiment with these variations on the classic board game.

Radio silence: In this variant, only the attacker announces their piece’s rank during an attack. This adds difficulty, as traditional gameplay often reveals opponent ranks through attacks. To determine the outcome, if the attacker is outranked or hits a bomb, their piece is removed. Otherwise, the defender can remove a lower-ranked piece while keeping their rank hidden. However, scouts force the defender to reveal their rank. This version relies heavily on trust between players.

Unequal outcome: Unlike standard rules where equally ranked pieces are both removed, this variation allows the attacker to remain on the board. Only the defender’s piece is eliminated in such encounters.

Search and rescue: This variation lets players rescue captured pieces. By moving a piece to the opponent’s back row, you can free one captured unit and return it to any open space on your side. Exceptions include scouts, which cannot perform rescues, and bombs, which remain captured. Each player is limited to two rescues, and no piece can rescue more than once [source: Hasbro].

Another exciting variation is to bring the battle into the digital realm. The first officially licensed "Stratego" video game launched in 1990, and today, you can find versions for iPhone, Android, Wii, DS, and Xbox, offering both solo and multiplayer modes [sources: Blanco; McCloud]. Additionally, unofficial apps like "The General," available for iPhone and iPad, mimic Stratego’s format. However, as of early 2012, only the official "Stratego" app allows you to challenge human opponents rather than just the computer.