Few games can claim to have the pedigree of Risk, which dates back to 1959. Each player represents a colonial power seeking to become the dominant influence over planet Earth (read this as 'to win you must eliminate all other players'). The game board depicts the Earth with its 7 continents and these are further divided into individual territories, some 42 in all. Each player is given a number of starting units (the total is dependent on the number of players) and in turn each player gains control of 1 territory by placing a unit in it. This continues until all territories are occupied. Players then reinforce these territories with their remaining units. By the end of set-up the stage is set as players offensive and defensive lines are obvious for all to see. The first turn is always a turbulent affair as roughly a third of all player's forces are wiped out in a fierce grab for land. Risk's success is based on a simple 3-phase turn for each player. Phase 1 is reinforcement and allows players to replace units lost on the field of battle. Reinforcements are determined by dividing all held land by 3 and also by gaining rewards for controlling entire continents (rewards vary based on the size of the continents). The later part of this equation is the driving force for much of the games strategy. Rather than reward players for ill-focused offensives, players are instead encouraged to target whole continents. Should they succeed in capturing a continent, they will not be rewarded with the bonus units unless they can hold it until the start of their next turn. So players must also pay attention to developing defensive lines and buffer zones if they hope to maintain these crucial advantages. Phase 2 is the combat phase and this is where the action happens. Units face-off and if the aggressor is successful they can continue onto the next adjacent territory should they win. In this way players can launch devastating wave attacks across whole continents. The only restriction is that each captured territory must always maintain a garrison in defence. Therefore players must weigh up how adventurous they can afford to be, as they don't want to leave their lands open to a strong counter-offensive. The final phase is friendly movement and allows the units located in one territory (that were not involved in battle) to move to an adjacent friendly territory. Whilst this appears to be of little importance, it is actually a crucial means of reinforcing key strategic territories and moving units to a new frontline.

Risk is a game that hardly needs my stamp of approval, as it is a game renowned for living in the homes of even the most infrequent gamer. Strategy and luck are almost required in equal amounts and this offers the game an edge that allows non-experienced gamers a fair chance of victory against even the most hardened of pros. The games pace is fast and unrelenting as players continue to jockey for position. Surprise is also possible through the use of Territory cards, which can offer a third and final means to gaining reinforcements. In this way even the most poorly positioned players can launch devastating counter attacks and catch the over confident opposition out. If you haven't played Risk all I can say is "It's about time you did".