I’d say this game sort of qualifies as a board game, and it’s fun too. How about cribbage? It’s thought provoking, and I’ve had lots of fun playing it. Even if it’s not strictly a board game, it has some of the elements of one.
Nm, missed your statements about cribbage. Hmm. Have you tried Dominoes? How about Pentei or Othello?
Hey, I play Go, and I’m not old. Well, unless you think 23 is old.
Anyway, I think it’s too complex a game to play with your SO, unless both of you are really into it. The really nice boards are REALLY nice, though. drool
How about Chinese Chequers? Or just get one of those game compendiums from Toys 'R Us, there’s bound to be a game or two that will be fun, as opposed to get you kicked to the couch fo the night. And there’s bound to be at least a game that either one of you are better at, just so that it doesn’t turn into a one sided beatdown every night (also saves you from the couch).
Eh… That’s 26C. You think 26C is hot? Don’t go to Singapore
Yes, I realise I’m not helping here. I find 25C (77F) to be a nice and comfortable temperature indoors, though, and anything under that to be a bit chilly.
My suggestion: Get shorts. Or walk around your house in your boxers. Drink lots of cold water.
Okay, sorry guys, the last post did not happen… 
I’ll second Games Magazine. Their game reviews are interesting, and their pre-Christmas issue has ratings for just about all the top new games.
A co-worker from my old job bought quite a few from Cheapass Games, http://www.cheapass.com/, and speaks highly of them. They’re mostly very plain (colour is a new idea!) and often really bizarre: “One False Step for Mankind (August 2003): An intricate and gorgeous board game about Gold Rush towns racing to the Moon” or maybe “Unexploded Cow (2001): Two problems with a common solution: mad cows in England and unexploded bombs in France. A perennial favorite” or even “Devil Bunny Hates the Earth (2001): A weird sequel to a weird game. You’re a taffy machine in Devil Bunny’s candy factory, trying to clog your own works with squirrels.” They even have some freebies!
Give chess a try. What you may find is that you start playing and then one player does a bit of investigasting on strategy and tactics and starts winning and then the other does the saem and a vicious cycle is created ad before you know it you are both Grandmasters…or something like that. The fun thing about chess is after a game you can discuss how it went.
Of course, there’s always America’s Favorite Game – Guess What Thread Tabby_Cat Thought S/he Was Posting To!
I’ll add another vote for Carcasonne the Castle as a really engaging 2-player game.
Others I have enjoyed with my daughter (12 yrs old) are “Lord of the Rings - the Confrontation”, a Stratego-like game but with a smaller board & fewer and more varied pieces so the game doesn’t drag on as long, and Balloon Cup, an interesting card/marker game.
I also recently picked up a book “Gladstone’s Games to Go”, a nice compendium of “classic” games played with pencil and paper, coins, etc. We’ve had a lot of fun with some of these.
Yes, you’re right MGibson, thank you for the correction.
Pok…er uh Yu-gi… uh Magic The Gathering. Yeah thats it.
Seriously. MTG is the original and best.
And if you’re vaguely interested in Magic: The Gathering but not quite sure how best to adapt it to your prefered play style, requirements, preferences, etc., just ask, and your loyal SDMB magic geeks (such as myself) will happily expound at great length.
Two great games of strategy that not a lot of people know much about are Mancala, and Quarto. Quarto might be harder to find, but it is well worth it. How many games are there in which you select the piece your opponent must play?
I recommend Sequence. It looks kind of lame, but really is quite fun. My husband and I enjoy playing with just the two of us, and it’s fun with a group of friends/family too.
I’ve never found Mancala or Sequence that much fun. Both of those games are big hits with my family but they just seem boring to me.
I always win at Sequence wihtout much effort and I like a challenge.
You know, a good family binding ritual would be to invent your own game. We play a game with dice in which the goal is to get 10,000 points and we come up with different ways to score and different qualifications for scoring. The game has evolved into something unique to us.
Ok, this is gonna be long. I know a dice game using 6 regular dice. I couldn’t google it, because I don’t know the name. I’ve run into a few people that are familar with it but not many, and none who had a name. They just call it That Cool Dice Game
So, here are the rules:
Equipment: 6 regular six-sided dice. paper and pencil to keep score.
Dice values: Ones and fives are the only single counters. 1 one= 100 points.
2 ones=200points, 3 ones =1000 points, 4 ones = 2000 points, 5 ones =4000 points, 6 ones =6000 points.
1 five = 50 points, 2 fives = 100 points, 3 fives = 500 points, 4 fives = 1000 points, 5 fives = 2000 points, 6 fives = 3000 points.
All other point values are predicated on 3 of the same number in the* same *roll.
3 twos = 200 points, 4 twos = 400 points, 5 twos =800 points, 6 twos = 1600 points.
3 threes = 300 points, 4 threes = 600 points, 5 threes = 1200 points, 6 threes = 2400 points.
3 fours = 400 points, 4 fours = 800 points, 5 fours= 1600 points, 6 fours = 3200 points.
3 sixes = 600 points, 4 sixes = 1200 points, 5 sixes =2400 points, 6 sixes = 4800 points.
In addition, a single roll of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, a straight = 1500 points.
Scoring: Play goes to 10,000 points, or more. The first score for each player must add up to 1000 points. Subsequent scores for each player must be 400 points or more.
Rules: Each player rolls one dice to determine who starts. The highest roll is first.
The player rolls all 6 dices.
He/she pulls any “counters” to the side, then rolls the remaining dice. Continuing this pattern until all the dice have been used, or no counters are rolled. When all the dice have been rolled and the final roll counts, the player is said to “be rolling, and MUST roll all 6 dice again, continuing until he/she makes enough points to score or more, or rolls no counters (a " zero”), at which point the dice move to the next player. If the turn ends with no counter, no score is recorded.
The current player, after rolling the required number of points to score, he/she may opt to take that score or continue rolling. As long as counters are rolled, the player may continue. When satisfied with his/her score, he passes the dice to the next player, and his score is recorded.
When one player’s score comes within 1000 points of winning he/she must “Call the Point” yes or no. Yes, means that he/she will “rollout” or make enough points to win in one turn.
No means he/she will continue the scoring as before. This is a field leveler. If one player has pulled so far ahead that the other can’t’ catch up, a yes precludes a consession. Its the sportsman-like thing to do. (or its just cockeyness) Once one player reaches or passes 10,000, the other player(s) have one more roll.
** Sample Play**
Player One rolls 6 dice. They are 1, 1, 3, 6, 2, 2. he/she pulls the ones aside , a score of 200 points, and rolls the remaining dice. This produces 5, 4, 2,2. The 5 is pulled, 50 points, total=250 points. He/she rolls the three dice, producing 2, 2, 2, for 200 points. making the total so far, 450. Since all the dice have been used, the player is “rolling,” picks up all six again and rolls producing, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 6. The 4s are pulled for 400 points, total 850. The othe three dice are rolled, producing 4,1,3. The one is pulled for 100 points, total 950 the 4 doesn’t count. It was in another roll. The 2 dice are rolled for 5, 3. The 5 is pulled for 50 points total is now 1000 points. since this is the opening score, the player may opt to continue, or stop here. Stopping puts the 1000 points in the player score column. Had he/she continued and rolled the 3 for a 2, the score is lost and the dice go to the next player.
Player Two rolls all six dice for 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5. a straight. 1500 points. This is ample to get on the score board, but all the dice have been used, so the player is obligated to roll all 6 dice again. Producing 2, 2, 3, 3, 6, 4. There are no counters:(. No score is recorded and the dice move to the next player.
Player One: Rolls 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6. 100 points, rolls 3, 3, 3, 4, 2. . 300 +100=400, rolls 1, 1 for 200 + 400+ 600 and rolling. All 6 dice 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3. 1000+ 600= 1600. Player stands . Score is recorded, added to the previous for a grand total of 2600 and dice are passed.
Player Two rolls 3, 2, 4, 5, 2, 6,for 50 points. rolls 5 dice for 1,1,2,4,4,3for, 200+50=250. Rolls 4 dice for 2, 2, 3, 3. Bust. Dice passed
Player One rolls 6,6,6, 3, 3, 3 for 600+300+ 900 and rolling, rolls 6 dice for 1,1, 4, 4, 4, 2, 6. 900+ 200+ 400= 1500 holds. Points are added to previous score for a grand total of 4100 Dice are passed.
Player Two rolls 6,6,6,6,2,3. for 1200. Holds, score is recorded Dice passed.
Player One rolls 4,4,4, 2,2,3 400, holds, score 4500.
Player Two rolls 3,3,3, 1,1,5. 300+250+550 & rolling, 6 dice rolled, 5,5,5,1,2,6. 500+100+550=1150 holds, score 2350.
Player One rolls 3,3,5,5,1,2. (strategy: is it better to hold all three counters or just the one? It depends on how many dice are left.) the 1 for 100 points is pulled and 5 dice are rolled, for 1,1,2,2,4. the ones are pulled for 200+100=300 3 dice rolled for 2,2,5 five is pulled 50+300+350. 2 dice are rolled 2,4 Bust, no score dice passed.
Player Two rolls 1,1,4,4,4,3 200+400=600, stands score, 600+2350=2950
Player One rolls 6,6,6,3,2,4 for 600. Stands. Score 600+4500=5100
Player Two rolls 1,1,1,6,6,6, for 1600 & rolling rolls 1,1,3,3,3,2 for 200+300+1600=2100. holds. Score. 5100
Player One rolls 5,5,5,5,1,2 for 1100 stands. Score 1100+5100=6200
Player Two rolls 2,5,3,4,1,6 for 150 rolls 2,2,2,4 for 200+150=350 rolls 1 for 100+ 350=450 & rolling, rolls 5,5,4,4,6,3, for 100+450=550 Holds Score 550+5100=5600
Player One rolls 1,1,1,1,5,3. for 2500 OPTS TO CONTINUE rolls 1 for 100+2500 & rolling, rolls 1,1,3,3,3,4 for 500+2500= 3000 Holds , Score 9200 Calls the point yes.
Player Two rolls 1,1,1,4,4,4, for 1400 and rolling, rolls 5,5,5,1,2,3, for 600+1400=2000. rolls 1,5 for 150+2000=2150 & rolling, rolls 1,3,3,5,6,6, for 150+2150=2300 holds Score 2300+5650=7900
Player One rolls 3,3,3,1,2,3 for 300+100=400 rolls 1,6 for 100+400=500 rolls 1 for 100+500=600 & rolling, rolls 1,2,2,3,3,6, for 100+600=700 rolls, 2,2,2,4,3 for 200+600=800 (would you stand or go?) Stands Score 800+ 9200=10,000
Player Two rolls 1,5,6,6,6,3 for 750 rolls 1 for 100+750 & rolling, rolls 4,4,4,4,1,2 for 800+100+750=1650 rolls 5 for 50+ 1650=1700 & rolling, rolls 6,6,6,2,3,3 for 600+1700=2300+7950= 10,200 to win
I’m going to put in another vote for Carcasonne. My boyfriend and I are big game-types and we love Carcasonne. We got the original version, which you can use with I think up to 5 people, but it works fine with two.
I’m also going to give a shout out to another Rio Grande game, San Juan . It works well with 2 people and can work with up to 4. There are cards involved with this game, but it’s not a card game, per se. Many fun hours ensued after I got the superhero this game for Giftmas.
I’ll put in a vote for Nuclear War. Not only is it a time-tested classic that works for two (or more) players, but it’s not too demanding to play, and many games end with “all players killed and destroyed,” which avoids any potential marital strife problems. 