Stratego

1 Overview

Stratego is a 2-player strategy board game of hidden information. Each player commands an army of 40 pieces of varying ranks, arranged secretly on a 10×10 board. The identity of your pieces is hidden from your opponent until combat — bluffing and deduction are central to victory.

The goal is to capture your opponent's Flag, which is hidden somewhere among their pieces. Every move is a calculated gamble: you know your own army but must deduce your enemy's positions through battle and observation.

2 Pieces & Rankings

Each player has 40 pieces. Higher rank wins in combat, with two special exceptions:

• Flag (F): Immovable. Capturing it wins the game.
• Bomb (B): Immovable. Defeats any attacker except the Miner. You have 6.
• Marshal (10): Highest rank. Defeats everything except the Spy.
• General (9): Second highest.
• Colonel (8), Major (7), Captain (6), Lieutenant (5), Sergeant (4): Standard ranked pieces.
• Miner (3): The only piece that can defuse and remove Bombs.
• Scout (2): Can move any number of squares in a straight line (like a rook in chess), but cannot jump over pieces.
• Spy (1): Lowest rank, but defeats the Marshal when the Spy attacks first.

3 Setup

The 10×10 board has two 2×2 lake squares in the center that no piece can enter or cross. Each player sets up their 40 pieces in their own four starting rows, arranged however they choose — your opponent cannot see your piece identities.

Planning your initial setup is a major strategic decision. Common strategies include protecting your Flag with Bombs, placing Scouts on the flanks for reconnaissance, and positioning your Marshal and General centrally.

4 Gameplay & Movement

Players alternate turns. On your turn, move one piece one square in any orthogonal direction (up, down, left, right) — not diagonally. Pieces cannot jump over other pieces or enter the lake squares.

Scout exception: Scouts may move any number of open squares in a straight line in one turn, making them excellent for probing enemy lines.

Immovable pieces: Flags and Bombs cannot move. They stay wherever you placed them.

5 Combat

When you move a piece onto a square occupied by an opponent's piece, combat occurs. Both players reveal the rank of their attacking pieces simultaneously.

• Higher rank wins: The lower-ranked piece is removed. The winner moves to the contested square.
• Equal ranks: Both pieces are removed from the board.
• Bombs: Defeat any attacker except Miners. Miners defuse Bombs — both the Miner survives and the Bomb is removed.
• Spy vs. Marshal: If the Spy attacks the Marshal, the Spy wins. If the Marshal attacks the Spy, the Marshal wins.

6 Winning

You win by capturing your opponent's Flag. You also win if your opponent has no legal moves on their turn (all their moveable pieces are blocked).

7 Strategy

Protect Your Flag

Surround your Flag with Bombs, and hide it in a corner or back row. Don't make it obvious — putting all your Bombs in one corner is a giveaway.

Scout Early

Use Scouts to probe enemy territory and reveal piece ranks. Information is power — knowing where high-ranked enemy pieces are helps you avoid costly losses.

Bluff With Movement

Move low-value pieces aggressively to make your opponent think they're high-value threats. Conversely, keep your Marshal in reserve and advance it only when you know it's safe.

Mine for Miners

Your opponent's Miners are a major threat to your Bomb-protected Flag. Identifying and eliminating enemy Miners early is a key mid-game priority.