How to play Stratego

One player takes Red and the other Blue. Red moves first. In our online game you play Red against the computer.

Place your 40 pieces in the four rows nearest you, ranks facing you. Put the Flag somewhere safe, usually the back row, with Bombs beside it. Not sure? Use the recommended setup in the game, then read the setup guide.

Move a piece one square up, down, left or right. Scouts may move any distance in a straight line. Bombs and the Flag never move, and nothing may enter the two lakes in the middle.

Move onto an enemy piece to attack. Both pieces are shown. The higher rank wins; equal ranks are both removed. Three exceptions:

• A Miner defuses a Bomb. Anything else that hits a Bomb is removed.
• A Spy that attacks the Marshal wins.
• Any piece that attacks the Flag wins the game.

Capture the enemy Flag, or leave your opponent with no piece that can move. Full details are in the complete rules and the rank table.

The game at the top of our home page runs in your browser on phone or desktop, with no sign-up. Arrange your setup or pick a random one, choose Easy, Normal or Hard, and play. The computer only knows what a real opponent would know: your pieces stay hidden until they move or fight.