8 classic board games that build intelligence

1. Chess

Perhaps the most famous board game: board, 32 pieces and endless strategic space!

There are various theories about the origin of chess, but they only came to Europe in the 10th century, and the game acquired its modern form only in the 15th century.

There is no factor of chance in chess: it is pure sport, pure confrontation of minds. The winner is the one who is better able to analyze the position of the pieces on the board and calculate the likely course of events. For professional players, everything is very difficult: there is a miscalculation for dozens of moves ahead, work with thousands of possible combinations. Ordinary mortals do not look that far, but an attempt to predict the actions of an opponent, even in the short term, can give you unforgettable moments of "boiling" of the brain.

2. Go

Guo originated in ancient times in China. But the game became world famous only in the XX century. Go is also becoming more and more popular in Russia.

At first glance, the strategic potential of the game is less than that of chess. The inventory here is very scarce: a board and black-and-white stones - figures. If you played dots at school, then you know the basic principle. The player must limit as much territory as possible with his points. Only in Go, instead of dots, there are stones. And many additional rules significantly complicate the school fun we are used to.

However, the rules of the game are not at all difficult and you can understand the game principles after a couple of hours of training. But it takes people their whole life to master all the tactical pitfalls.

3. Bridge

The ancestor of bridge is vint - a card game that was very popular in pre-revolutionary Russia. But in its modern form, the bridge took shape in the United States in the first half of the 20th century.

Bridge is the only card game recognized as a sports discipline. And this is no coincidence: the rules are rather complicated here, and also, unlike most other card games, in bridge the result of the game depends very little on chance. Success is based on the skill of the players.

There are several types of bridge, differing in the level of difficulty. So, in addition to the sports option, there is a rubber bridge suitable for home play. All you need for an interesting and rewarding pastime is a deck with 52 cards, four players (including you) and knowledge of the rules. The last element is the most difficult: it will take a long time until you understand the concepts of contract and double, understand when to fold, and master all the intricacies of the rally stage. But believe me: this workout for the brain is worth it.

4. Checkers

Many people perceive checkers as a kind of simplified chess. Formally, there is something similar between them: for example, a board marked with black and white squares. In practice, checkers is a completely different game with its own rules and subtleties.

However, it is not at all difficult to master the rules of checkers. Checkers move diagonally, "eat" enemies, jumping over them, and at the opposite end of the board they turn into kings. It is a simple yet very rich and varied game. It will not be difficult to learn it, and it can bring a lot of fun and benefits.

5. Xiangqi

Xiangqi is often referred to as "Chinese chess". This status is only partly correct. Xiangqi is related to chess only by the name of some pieces and the condition of the player's defeat - receiving a checkmate, that is, the impossibility of taking the king away from the blow.

Xiangqi is very popular in Asia; it has not yet spread in our country. This is largely due to the strongly expressed national character of the game. So, in the traditional version, the figures are marked with Chinese characters. However, there are sets with symbolic drawings adapted for the western player. Therefore, do not be afraid of xiangqi - this is a very "smart" game for two.

6. Shogi

And this is "Japanese chess". They gained popularity outside of Japan quite recently.

The game is played on a board of 81 squares. There are also pieces similar to Western chess, like the king and rook. But there are also unique ones: dragon, silver. Most of the pieces have a back that can be activated in a specific part of the board.

In general, the Shogi rules are original and very difficult to learn. To achieve a more or less decent level, you will have to spend a lot of time. Therefore, it is not worth recommending the game to everyone, but shogi is ideal for fans of exotic intellectual entertainment.

7. Backgammon

Backgammon in its modern form originated in Great Britain, but gained particular popularity in Russia and in the East.

The task of each player is to take all his checkers off the board. The movement distance is determined by a die roll at the start of each turn. This is the only element of randomness in the game, but it is quite significant, so it is impossible to equate backgammon in terms of difficulty with the above games. Nevertheless, the strategic potential in backgammon is also considerable: you need to evaluate the probabilities and block the opponent's possible moves. Backgammon is a very fun way to wiggle your mind.

8. Scrabble

This game does not have as long a history as other members of the list. However, it was impossible not to remember it: it is a simple and at the same time great game that develops concentration and memory. In Russia "Scrabble" is known under the name "Erudite".

The essence of the board is probably known to the majority: the participants sequentially lay chips with letters on the playing field, making up words. The more long words with "rare" letters a participant makes, the more chances he has to win. Scrabble can be played by two to four people at the same time.