If you’ve ever played a strategy board game, you know that it can be overwhelming at first. You need to know the rules, keep track of resources, watch what your opponents are doing, and make decisions at every turn. However, getting better at board gaming isn’t just about memorizing the rules or memorizing an opening sequence. It’s about understanding why certain moves work, and knowing how to adapt when the game doesn’t go according to plan. Here are seven skills you can work on to become a more confident and skilled strategy board gamer.
1. Learn the Game Before You Try to Win
The biggest mistake that many players make is trying to win the game before they’ve learned what they’re doing.
First, you need to learn what the goals are, what actions you can take, how scoring works, and any key mechanics of the game. Only then can you start thinking about which choices will impact the game.
Tip: When you’re learning a new game, try treating your first few games as practice instead of a test. Try different things out to see what happens when you make different choices.
2. Plan One or Two Moves Ahead
You don’t have to think several turns ahead to be a good strategist.
It helps to keep the following questions in mind:
- What is my goal for my next action?
- What resources will I need to achieve it?
- What might my opponents do before I get to act again?
- What happens if my strategy doesn’t work?
Even thinking one or two moves ahead can help you to avoid making random or unnecessary choices.
3. Learn the Value of Your Resources
In many strategy games, there’s a limited supply of coins, cards, workers, actions, tiles, or anything else that allows you to take actions.
The question isn’t just “What can I spend this resource on?” but “What can I spend this resource on for the greatest value?” A resource that seems cheap and expendable early on in the game can suddenly become very valuable late in the game. Knowing when to spend, hoard, or trade resources is a key part of being a good strategist.
4. Observe the Board, Not Just Your Piece
It’s easy to get caught up in your own strategy and forget that your opponents have their own strategy, too.
Notice what your opponents are buying, selling, building, or ignoring. This can help you understand what they’re prioritizing, and can even help you discover opportunities to block them. You don’t need to be able to read minds. But keeping tabs on what other players are doing can help you make more informed decisions.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Adapt Your Strategy
Your strategy for the early game might not work later.
Maybe someone takes the one resource you needed, or maybe the board has changed significantly, or perhaps a new option opens up. A good player isn’t one who can predict the entire course of the game, but one who can adapt to changing conditions.
Adaptability is its own strategy.
6. Reflect on Your Choices
At the end of a game, think about what happened during a few important moments.
- What went well? Think about the choices that led to you gaining an advantage.
- What went poorly? Consider any choices that wasted resources, actions, or time.
- What would you do differently? Consider alternative actions that you could have taken. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes, but try to learn from them.
You don’t need to review every turn of the game. Finding one or two things to take away from each game is enough to start seeing significant improvements over time.
7. Play Often, But Play Smart
Experience is important, but simply playing more won’t necessarily improve your game.
Instead, set a simple goal for each session. You might focus on tracking resources in one game, planning ahead in the next, and reading the table in the third.
Doing this means every game becomes an opportunity to hone a particular skill.
The Most Important Strategy: Keep Learning
There’s no one secret to becoming a great board gamer. Different games favor different strategies, and no matter how good your plan is, the game could throw a curveball. The goal is to understand the game better, make decisions based on what you know and what you can anticipate, and adapt when things don’t go as planned.
At BoardCanvas, we believe that learning a game makes playing it even more fun. Whether you’re trying out your first strategy game or looking to sharpen your existing skills, there’s always more to learn. Every new insight can change the way you see the board.
Ready to plan your next move? Check out BoardCanvas’ courses and get started!