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Games that Develop Logical Thinking
This page contains links to informational and gateway sites about games that, by playing, help develop logical, and often, spatial and relational, thinking. The games are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of ease or difficulty. The games of Chess and Othello depend purely on strategy and logic, while other games, such as Backgammon or Mahjongg, depend on strategy combined with chance to win. Please e-mail me with information about games that I might have missed.
Backgammon Five-in-a-Row Minesweeper Checkers Go Othello Chess & variants Joshua Pentominoes Chinese Checkers Mah Jongg Quarto Clue Mancala Stratego Dominoes Mastermind Other Games
Games like Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, and Stratego are good games to begin learning strategy. The other games are good next-level games, with the hardest logic and strategy games being Chess, Go, and Othello. (Individual children will vary.) Games like Backgammon, Checkers, Chess and its variants, Go, and Othello are simple to learn but challenging to master for even the most brilliant.
Minesweeper, Joshua, and Pentominoes are solitaire games. Minesweeper is a computer game that comes with Windows; Joshua is available as a computer or Nintendo game; and Pentominoes is a table game. Backgammon, Checkers, Chess and its variants, Five-in-a-Row games, Mancala, Mastermind, Othello, and Stratego are two-player games. Chinese Checkers, Clue, and Dominoes are multiple-player games: from three to six, eight, or even ten players. Mah Jongg is a four-player game.
Backgammon is a two-player game that is easily learned in a few minutes, but challenging to master the finer points of logic and probabilty. It is fun and challenging for mid-grammar stage children through adults.
Backgammon Galore!
Learn the rules of the game, download software and play with others online, improve your game, find links to other backgammon sites, and even join a backgammon newsgroup, all right here.Ed’s Backgammon Problems
Six problems to test your backgammon strategy and probability skills, with answers if you get stumped. Some of the problems have been featured in Games Magazine.A Backgammon Gamble Pays Off
This article, from the September 1982 issue of Games Magazine, explains why Backgammon is a game of skill, like Chess or Bridge, rather than purely chance.
Checkers, or Draughts, is a very ancient two-player game that is easily learned in a few minutes, but will challenge the sophisticated player for a lifetime. Checkers is a game of pure logic and strategy: chance is not involved. It is said that they have trouble programming computers to play an adequate game of Checkers because of the intricacies and subtleties of the game which lie just under the surface. It is fun and challenging for grammar stage children through adults.
How to Play Checkers
The basic rules; nothing more, nothing less.American Checker Federation
Wow! The origin of checkers, advanced checker problems, The Smithsonian, Norman Rockwell, Edgar Allen Poe, and Benjamin Franklin on Checkers, and so much more. Even Homer mentions draughts in the Odyssey. If you thought checkers was just for kids, think again!Jim Loy’s Checkers
The strategies of checkers, with commentary and analyzation of many famous tournament games, articles about various aspects of checkers and its variants, (including one about Senet, the ancient Egyptian game which is an early form of draughts), game history, links, and more.Triplejump
Triplejump has a several great pages explaining the rules of the game to the novice, plus checkers as it is played in the U.K. (where it is called Draughts) and internationally. There is also a Q&A page, message boards, tournament news, and much more.
Chess is another ancient two-player game that is easily learned in a few minutes, but will challenge the sophisticated player for a lifetime. Chess is also a game of pure logic and strategy. Variations of Chess exist under different names all over the world. It is fun and challenging for mid-grammar stage children through adults.
Chess @ About.com
There are hundreds, nay, thousands of chess sites on the internet, all with their own emphasis on different aspects of the game. I am, admittedly, a novice player, so I will let About.com’s expert guide navigate the world of chess on the net for us. There is a virtual Chess library represented here, with two of its offerings listed below, of interest to beginning players.The Rules of Chess
For the beginner, a straightforward explanation of the rules of the game and the pieces and their movements, with diagrams. From the About.com expert Chess guide.Chess School
From the About.com expert Chess guide. He has searched the internet for the links and sites that will take the Chess player from novice to expert.U.S. Chess Online
The website of the U.S. Chess Federation, “the official sanctioning body over board tournament play in the U.S. With over 80,000 members, we offer something for every player, from beginner to Grandmaster! In addition to rating tournaments, the USCF supports and promotes chess activities throughout the US.” There’s something for everyone here, and a nice page of links.Chess Sets and Boards
From the U.S. Chess Federation. Schools can find inexpensive classroom sets for as little as $3.99 each; families can purchase nicer weighted plastic sets for a little more; all the way up to elegant rosewood or ebony pieces with leather cases and chess tables for hundreds, even thousands (I kid you not); and just about everything in between. There’s even vinyl roll up chess mats which provide an instant playing surface on picnics or at the park. Our family made our favorite set out of my grandmother’s wooden sewing spools and her antique buttons, and painted a shipping box for a board. We store the pieces in one of my grandfather’s old cigar boxes, and the set reminds us of them every time we play. But, if you would rather purchase a set, this is a great place to find them.The Chess Variant Pages
You would not believe how many games there are that are based on chess (or from which chess was derived). This page has descriptions and wonderful illustrations of every single one, it seems, with links.Shogi 101: an Introduction to Japanese Chess
“Shogi is the Japanese version of chess. While they share some common elements and strategic principles, they are really two different games.” Learn all about it from the secretary of the United States Shogi Federation. When you have learned how to play, visit Shogi.net for more game helps.Rules of Chinese Chess (Xiangqi)
A close cousin of Western Chess (the game we’re used to), but with strategic differences. Many believe it is the most challenging game in the world, more so than even Western Chess. Play Xiangqi online, find answers to questions, and solve Xiangqi puzzles at the World Xiangqi League.
Chinese Checkers is a game for two to six players that is easily learned in a few minutes, but, like Checkers upon which it is based, is challenging once the surface is scratched. It is fun for grammar stage children through adults.
How to Play Chinese Checkers
Chinese Checkers is like checkers in that players try to move their marbles to the opposite side of the board by jumping. It’s a great game for very young children to begin learning strategy and logical thinking, as is Checkers.Halma and Chinese Checkers
The history of Chinese Checkers, and Halma upon which it is based. Halma itself is based on the much older Checkers.
Clue
This is the official website of the classic murder mystery detective game from Hasbro. Two to six players can play from ages 8 to adult. Clue celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999. Find out about the classic board game, the new CD-Rom version, and more.
Dominoes
Yes, Dominoes is an actual game. You can do more with them than set them up and tip the first one to make all the rest fall down. We were introduced to the exciting and cut-throat game of Dominoes by friends of my mother’s, and we have been playing ever since. The strategy is less complex, of course, than in Chess, Checkers, or Othello, but yes, strategy and planning is involved. This is a good game for family game night, since even very young children can learn the simple rules and enjoy playing the game. Two to four players can play with double-six dominoes; two to seven players can play with double-nine dominoes; and two to ten players can play with double twelve dominoes. Boardgames.com carries the nice set of double-twelve color dot dominoes that we use.Domino Plaza
“At the Domino Plaza you can find the rules to virtually any domino game on earth. If you are looking for the rules of a domino game, you’ve come to the right place. If we don’t have the rules ourselves, you will probably find a link to somewhere else.” This site also contains links to the history of the game of dominoes, and other dominoes sites on the internet.
Five-in-a-Row games are like Tic-Tac-Toe in a way, but instead of three in a row, you seek to make five in a row. The most famous five-in-a-row games are Pente, Renju, and Gomoku. Five-in-a-Row games are played with two players, and like Tic-Tac-Toe, can be learned in a minute, but unlike Tic-Tac-Toe, remain challenging for a lifetime. Fun for grammar stage children through adults.
Five-in-a-Row Games @ About.com
Nice links to all kinds of websites having to do with Five-in-a-Row games.Mark’s Five-in-a-Row Games
Thin on content, but comprehensive links for other Pente and Five-in-a-Row Game pages, as well as links to shareware and other computer games that play Five-in-a-Row games.Renju International Federation
Learn about Renju, Pente, and other five-in-a-row games, including the history, rules, tournaments, and networking with other players. The webmaster is Swedish and English is his second language; if you can overlook his sometimes flawed constructions this is a wonderful site packed with information.
Go is an ancient two-player game originating in Asia or China. It is a game of pure strategy, like Chess, and the simple rules can be learned in a few minutes. But there is a depth and intellectual, intuitive challenge to Go that keeps it fascinating for a lifetime of dedicated play, and which has thus far proven to be the biggest hurdle in programming a computer to play the game without making obvious mistakes, unlike Chess. The simple rules can be easily learned by grammar stage children, but the subtleties of the game are better appreciated by older children and adults.
British Go Association
This wonderful site provides an introduction and some history to the game of Go and takes the beginner step-by-step through the rules. It also posts an example game of Go, as well as Go problems to help beginners learn the strategies involved.Go, an Addictive Game
This very impressive Go website is by Jan van der Steen of the Netherlands, written in excellent English. If it is related to Go in any way, it will be catalogued here. Be sure to visit the Go Problems page if you want to sharpen your analytical abilities--not only are there many problems on which to practice, but links to other Go problems sites as well.
Joshua by Wisdom Tree Games
Joshua is a wonderful puzzle and logical analysis game for the Nintendo, Sega Genesis, or PC, disguised as an adventure game. Joshua must lead God’s people into the Promised Land, while confronting Canaanites, Hittites, falling rocks, and other dangers, and discovering helps of the Lord along the way. There are 100 levels, or puzzles, in all, with each puzzle more challenging than the last, but also with each puzzle teaching skills needed to solve the next puzzles. Each level begins with the Biblical admonition, “Be courageous, Joshua!” The beginning puzzles are easy for eight year olds, the last puzzles very challenging for adults. You can earn bonus levels (20 in all), and for every five levels completed, you are rewarded with a challenging quiz on the Book of Joshua. In order to win at this game, you need much more than just video-game manual dexterity: you will not win without using logic as well. This is the way a game should be - multi-faceted and lots of fun for both kids and adults. We have had this game for years and still have not completed the whole game, therefore the kids are still interested in playing it - and there is not a single other Nintendo game out there that I can say that about. It’s a new challenge each time it’s played.
Mah Jongg, also known as the Chinese Game of Four Winds, the Ancient Game of the Mandarins, and the Game of a Thousand Intelligences, is a very ancient game for four players. Some Chinese historians say it was Confucius’ favorite game, and Chinese tradition states that Noah, the traditional founder of Chinese civilization after the Babel dispersion, and his sons played Mah Jongg on the ark. Tradition says that the wind was predominantly from the east during that global cataclysm, which is why the East Wind player is the first player in the game. It is impossible for us to know now where the origins of the game lie, but it has remained fun and challenging for millenia, and is experiencing a rise in popularity in the West. It is a personal family favorite. (Some people gamble with this game, as they do with Backgammon, but we ignore the gambling aspect of the game just as we do with Backgammon, and play it only for the fun and the challenge.) For mid-grammar stage children through adults.
Mah Jong Cyber Museum
This wonderful and award-winning site explains the rules of Mahjongg, explores the fascinating history of the game, especially in the West, and displays the many beautiful antique sets of Mahjongg tiles that the webmaster has collected over the years. This is also the definitive website for quality Mahjongg links on the Internet.The Mah Jongg Web Site
Comprehensive information on the classic Chinese game for four players. Do not miss the Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Mah Jongg.The Maj Exchange
The Maj Exchange is a series of bulletin boards designed for: asking questions about the game or the tiles, finding players in your area, completing a set of Mah Jongg tiles, finding buyers or sellers of Mah Jongg tiles or sets, getting information about cleaning or restoring antique tiles.The Mah Jongg Maven
If you are looking for a new tile set, the Mah Jongg Maven has the largest selection of high quality sets at competitive prices that we were able to find. This is where we purchased our set, and we are very happy with the service and the tiles. If you would like an antique set of Mah Jongg tiles, do a search on eBay for “mah jongg;” expect to pay more than a new set would cost.
How to Play Mancala
The very basic instructions of the game, with illustrations.Mancala History
Mancala is a very ancient African game, with variations played by every tribe in Africa and all over the Indian Ocean countries. Learn about its history, illustrated with unusual and beautiful sets from all over the world, at this site.Mancala Web
The rules can be learned in a few minutes, but mastering takes a lifetime. Select your difficulty level, and play Mancala online.
Mastermind
The challenging game of logic and deduction for two players ages 8 to adult. Find out how to play at this site, and also find out where to purchase the game. An Advanced Mastermind version of the game is also available.
Minesweeper is that little game that, like Solitaire, comes with Windows. Does it take logic to play this time-waster? Yes, indeed.
Minesweeper Logic
An article from Ivars Peterson’s MathTrek column, part of the Mathematical Association of America, which explains the basic logic of the game, and briefly delves into some of the strategies involved.Minesweeper Strategy
Learn more about the strategy and logical deduction needed to play this game. Another strategy page to visit is Jim Loy’s Minesweeper page.Java Minesweeper
If you don’t have Minesweeper on your computer, you can play this Java version online. Or download the Windows 3.1 version (essentially the same game) from Minesweeper Strategy.
Othello is also known as Reversi, and, like all the other great games on this page that have hung around for millenia, takes just a minute to for grammar stage children to learn but the strategy involved taxes the mental power of the most brilliant. Othello, however, is a relatively recent addition to the number of logic games played by the world’s population - only a little over 100 years old.
VOG Othello Club
Nicely illustrated rules of the game, and some basic strategy, from Vinco Online Games.VOG Othello Strategy Guide
A complete and thorough strategy guide, taking the novice step-by-step through the intricacies of the game, from Vinco Online Games.Reversi/Othello
A nice collection of internet links covering various aspects of the game, from Board Games@About.com.
Introduction to Pentominoes
What are pentominoes, exactly? This webpage explains it better than I ever could, and also goes into their discovery and development, and the mathematical logic and elegance inherent in Pentominoes.Pentominoes
A more brief introduction to pentominoes than the above site, but with the added attraction of a grid pattern for making your own pentominoes out of heavy card or wood, and many pentominoes problems of various kinds to get your children started on the fascinating logic behind these pieces. From the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching.The Pentominoes Page
More on pentominoes: how to make your own nice set inexpensively from materials purchased from hobby stores, or out of legoes!; a few pentominoes puzzles to solve; a nicely-written Pentominoes game to download and play against your computer; where to buy ready-made pentominoes; and links to other Pentominoes pages.
Quarto is a new game for two players similar to tic-tac-toe. It consists of four squares across instead of three, and is played with eight different game pieces: a short solid square (cube), a short hollow square, a tall solid square (rectangular solid), a tall hollow square, a short solid circle (cylinder), a short hollow circle, a tall solid circle (taller cylinder), and a tall hollow circle. There are two each of each type of piece: one is light-colored, and one dark-colored, for a total of sixteen pieces in all, just the same number of squares in a Quarto game grid.
The object of the game is to make a four in a row, using pieces of the same characteristic. You could make a four in a row using all tall pieces, both of squares and circles, and in different colors; or using all square pieces, both of tall and short, and in different colors; or using all light pieces, of tall or short, square or circle; or all hollow pieces, and so on. Just as in tic-tac-toe, players take turns blocking each others’ options while trying to keep their own options open. The pieces are all kept at the side of the board, and the players take turns choosing which piece to play next. Once you’ve played the game a few times, try playing it where your opponent gets to choose the piece you must play next. This twist is good for leveling the playing field between players of different abilites: parents and kids, for example, or older against younger siblings. The better player must use the piece his opponent chooses for him, while his opponent gets to choose his own piece. A challenging game for grammar stage children once they have figured out tic-tac-toe, through adults.
Quarto by Pressman Toys
Pressman Toys makes an inexpensive Quarto game, and the Where to Buy link at the bottom of the page allows you to input your state and zip code, and the site will return a list of stores that carry the game in your area, or links to internet game sites where it can be purchased.Quarto from the Game Preserve
This nice Quarto game from the Game Preserve has attractive hardwood pieces and a board that allows you to easily distinguish the pieces from the board. This set is a little more expensive than the Pressman Toys set, but still reasonable, and much more pleasing to the eye.Quarto
This program allows you to play the game online against the computer. Instead of tall and short pieces, since this game is necessarily two-dimensional, the pieces are narrow and wide.Java Quarto
Another Quarto game for playing against the computer.
Stratego @ About.com
Internet links about the classic game of battlefield strategy and deception, including information about the CD-Rom version of the game, and where to play Stratego online.Stratego
This university site uses the game of Stratego to teach Java programming, and contains basic information about the game. Warning: this page takes a long time to load because of graphics. Turn off the graphics option on your browser before visiting.
Board Games@About.com
A great resource for additional information and links about most of the games listed on this page (each game link, in addition, includes links for playing the game online, or for downloading shareware or computer versions to play at home), as well as a forum for discussing your favorite game, an extensive list of internet links for finding games, both new and out of print, links to the history of games, and more. Be sure to check the Abstract Games link.History of Traditional Board Games
Many of the board games listed on this page are very ancient, and have a fascinating history. Learn all about it here, illustrated with beautiful photographs of antique games from all over the world; also contains quality links.Vinco Online Games
Play chess, checkers, Othello, or Backgammon online. This site includes nice additional information, such as rules and strategy guides, links, and more.The Game Preserve
Buy quality editions of most of the games listed on this page. The Game Preserve is based in Indiana, but they take mail orders or online orders, also.Your Move Chess and Games
This great internet store carries lots of quality chess supplies, plus many of the other games listed on this page. They have a high customer satisfaction reputation.
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Classical Christian
Homeschooling: Classical Education at Home
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Miller / This page last revised January 2000
CCE Links: Logic: Games that Develop Logical Thinking
http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org/celinks/logic-games.html
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