Stratego
A strategy board wargame of hidden ranks and Napoleonic pieces.
Stratego is a two-player strategy board game often compared to chess, played on a 10×10 grid. Each player commands an army of 40 pieces, which are marked with Napoleonic insignia and ranked by a numbering system. The goal is to capture the opponent’s Flag or eliminate all of their pieces that can move.
The game is a modified version of an early 20th-century French game called L’Attaque. It has been produced in Europe since World War II and in the United States since 1961. Over time, versions have appeared for two or four players, with armies of 10, 30, or 40 pieces per side, and on smaller boards. Variant pieces and rule sets also exist. The International Stratego Federation organizes an annual World Championship.
The name “Stratego” comes from the French or Greek word *strategos*, meaning an ancient army leader. It was first registered as a trademark in the Netherlands in 1942. The U.S. trademark was filed in 1958 and registered in 1960 to Jacques Johan Mogendorff, and is now owned by Jumbo Games, based in the Netherlands. The game has been licensed to companies such as Milton Bradley and Hasbro, and sold by retailers including Barnes & Noble and Target.
A classic set includes 40 gold-embossed red pieces, 40 silver-embossed blue pieces, and a folding cardboard board measuring about 15½ by 18½ inches, printed with a 10×10 grid. Early sets used painted wooden pieces; later ones used colored plastic. The pieces are roughly rectangular, about 1 inch tall and ¾ inch wide, and unweighted. Newer European versions have cylindrical castle-shaped pieces. Some sets include a cardboard privacy screen, and a few come in wooden boxes or with wooden boards.
To set up, players choose colors by lot—one takes red, the other blue. Each arranges their 40 pieces in a 4×10 formation at their end of the board. Ranks are printed on one side only, so opponents cannot see each other’s identities. Pieces cannot be placed in the two 2×2 lakes in the center or on the 12 central squares. This setup phase shapes each player’s strategy and affects the game’s outcome.
Players take turns moving one piece per turn; red moves first. Moving first does not give a significant advantage. A player must move on their turn—no skipping is allowed. The two lakes in the middle cannot be entered and act as choke points, making direct frontal attacks less straightforward.
A player wins by capturing the opponent’s Flag or all of their movable pieces. Some ranked pieces may become immovable if trapped behind bombs. Draws are possible in rare cases, such as when both flags are bomb-protected and each player has only one non-miner piece left. An average game lasts 381 moves. The number of legal positions is about 10^115, and the number of possible games is about 10^535. Stratego has more moves and possible board states than chess or backgammon, but most moves are inconsequential because players think in terms of entire games rather than individual moves.
Most movable pieces—except the Scout—can move only one step to an adjacent space vertically or horizontally (not diagonally). A piece cannot move onto a space occupied by another piece of the same color. Bombs and the Flag cannot move. The Scout can move any number of spaces in a straight line, like a rook in chess. In older versions, the Scout could not move and attack in the same turn; newer versions allow this, and sanctioned play typically adopted that rule to speed up the game.
No piece may move back and forth between the same two spaces more than three consecutive turns (the two-square rule). A piece also cannot endlessly chase an opposing piece it cannot attack (the more-square rule).
To attack, a player moves their piece onto the square of an opposing piece. Both players then reveal their piece’s rank. The weaker piece is removed; if ranks are equal, both are removed. The winning piece immediately takes the vacated square. Two pieces have special attack powers: a Bomb can only be defused by a Miner—any other piece striking it is destroyed, while the Bomb remains. Each player also has one Spy, which succeeds only if it attacks the opponent’s Marshal or Flag. If the Spy attacks any other piece, or is attacked by any piece (including the Marshal), the Spy is defeated.
In competitive play, games are not recorded, unlike chess. The game is fast-paced, and no standard notation exists.
- field
- Board game
- known_for
- Strategy wargame with hidden ranks and imperfect information
- number_of_players
- 2 (also 4-player versions)
- pieces_per_player
- 40 (also versions with 10 or 30)
- board_size
- 10×10 squares
- governing_body
- International Stratego Federation
- world_championship
- Annual Stratego World Championship
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- Jumbo Games
- Years
- 1946–present
- Genre
- Board game / Strategy game / War game
- Players
- 2
- Setup Time
- 1 to 5 minutes
- Playing Time
- 10 minutes to 1.5 hours
- Random Chance
- None
- Ages
- 8+
- Skills
- Strategy, tactics, memory, bluff
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The name Stratego derives from the French or Greek strategos meaning leader of an ancient army. The game is presently owned by Jumbo Games as successors to Hausemann and Hotte, headquartered in the Netherlands, and has been licensed to manufacturers such as Milton Bradley, Hasbro, and retailers including Barnes & Noble and Target stores. The classic game box contains 40 gold-embossed red pieces, 40 silver-embossed blue pieces, and a folding cardboard board with a 10×10 grid. Early sets used painted wood pieces; later sets used colored plastic. Some modern versions have cylindrical castle-shaped pieces. Players arrange their 40 pieces in a 4×10 configuration at their end of the board, with ranks hidden from the opponent. Two 2×2 lakes in the center cannot be entered and serve as choke points. Gameplay involves alternating moves, with red moving first. Most pieces move one step orthogonally, except the Scout which moves any distance in a straight line. Attacks are resolved by comparing ranks: the higher-ranked piece wins, with equal ranks removing both. Special pieces include the Bomb (defused only by Miners) and the Spy (succeeds only against the Marshal or Flag).
Reader's Guide
Stratego's significance lies in its blend of simple rules with deep strategic complexity, particularly its element of imperfect information. Unlike chess, where all pieces are visible, Stratego players conceal their ranks, introducing psychology such as bluffing, concealment, and guessing. The initial setup is a crucial strategic element, with players choosing aggressive or defensive formations. The game has spawned numerous variants, including two- and four-player versions, different piece counts, and boards of varying sizes. The International Stratego Federation governs competitive play and sponsors an annual World Championship. Stratego's legacy includes influencing later hidden-information games and maintaining a dedicated player base for decades. Its large number of possible moves and board states—far exceeding chess—makes it a game of long-term strategy rather than short-term tactics, where most moves are inconsequential and players think in terms of 'games not moves.'
Did You Know?
- Stratego is a slightly modified copy of the early 20th century French game L'Attaque.
- The Spy succeeds only if it attacks the Marshal or the Flag; otherwise it is defeated.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
Some people believe Stratego is an original game design, but it is actually a slightly modified copy of the early 20th century French game L'Attaque. Another common misconception is that the Spy can defeat any piece it attacks; in fact, the Spy succeeds only if it attacks the Marshal or the Flag, and is otherwise defeated.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
Stratego endures because it combines the tactical depth of chess with the psychological tension of hidden information—players never know exactly what rank their opponent is moving until an attack occurs. This blend of strategy and bluffing has kept the game relevant for decades, sustained by an organized world championship and a dedicated international federation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stratego?
Stratego is a two-player strategy wargame played on a 10×10 grid where each side commands 40 pieces bearing Napoleonic insignia. The defining twist is hidden ranks: you never see an opponent's piece value until the two pieces actually interact.
What is the objective of the game?
You win by capturing the opponent's Flag or by eliminating all of their movable pieces. Because the Flag is a stationary piece, guarding it becomes a central defensive priority throughout the match.
How does Stratego differ from chess?
Unlike chess, Stratego operates under imperfect information—enemy ranks stay concealed until a collision or capture reveals them. This layer of bluffing and deduction is the game's signature mechanic and has no direct equivalent in chess.
Who oversees competitive Stratego, and are there variant formats?
The International Stratego Federation administers organized play and rules for the competitive community. Beyond the standard two-player, 40-piece format, four-player editions and reduced-piece versions (10 or 30 per side) are also available.
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