Game On
These classic consoles won’t just test your mental mettle— they’ll also underscore your design savvy. We’ve paired each one with a tip to help you defend your home court
Photos by Melissa Punch
[1] Cribbage
This 17th-century game is a blend of gin and war: Players toss down cards in a face-off round before building pairs, runs, or flushes for an additional round of points. Pegs help you track the score; first one around wins.
Your edge: Each player scans his hand and discards cards to a “crib” that scores points for the dealer. If you’re the dealer, give yourself good cards: a pair, for example. If not, avoid tossing anything that will help your opponent score points during the face-off round: 5s, 10s, and any face cards.
The set: This board features polished metal pegs instead of the usual plastic stand-ins. We’d have lost them instantly, but the rosewood body doubles as a smart storage container. $75, houseofcribbage.com
[2] Dominoes
The game hasn’t changed since the 1100s, when the earliest dominoes were made. Players harvest seven facedown dominoes from a pool of 28 and take turns laying down tiles with matching numbers touching. No options? Pick from the pile. Pile’s gone? Next player goes. The first person to run out of dominoes (or the one with the lowest score remaining in hand) wins.
Your edge: Always discard high tiles, but keep your low numbers diverse. Carrying doubles reduces your options.
The set: You don’t have to be an AARP member to enjoy this set of bones. The sleek, brushed silver tiles are made of lightweight, aircraft-quality aluminum—the same stuff that Harley enthusiasts put on their motorcycles. $350, billetbones.com
[3] Connect Four
This classic two-player face-off was called “the Captain’s Mistress,” after English seafarer James Cook’s addiction to the game in the 1700s. Your goal, if you’re one of the three Americans who haven’t played, is to create a consecutive link of four chips, across, down, or diagonally.
Your edge: Boxing out the center column opens opportunities for diagonal wins and prevents your opponent from doing the same. Creating two consecutive rows of three, either horizontally or diagonally, is another way to force your opponent into a no-win situation.
The set: There’s nothing refined about the neon yellow set made popular in the 1980s. This stained mahogany Master Score 4 set from Jaques of London keeps up a gentlemanlike appearance—even when you administer a brutal beat-down to your opponent. $90, jaqueslondon.com
Go to the next page to learn how to beat anyone at tic-tac-toe...
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