Children are so captivated by various gadgets that they often don’t want to not only read, but even play non-virtually. This worries both specialists and parents. In one of the episodes of the cartoon "Barboskiny" Grandfather just suggests a way to return children to real world by playing with the whole family the usual “Battleship” on paper.

To do this, he turns off the electricity in the house, and the grandchildren are forced to master the game, which does not require any special conditions. He showed that you can have an interesting time without any Internet, armed only with a pen and your own mind.

Although this board game Battleship exists today in a computer version, the traditional version of destroying ships on a checkered piece of paper has one undoubted advantage over the virtual one.

Playing with a living person is more interesting than playing with a computer; the battle is much more fun and exciting. And it’s more useful, because in this case the child develops not only logic and strategic thinking, but also intuition, the ability to “calculate” and read the emotions of another person.

Another plus and the reason for the long popularity of the game is the simplicity of its organization. In order to lead ships into battle, you do not need the Internet, electricity, a large room or any special surroundings. All you need is paper, a pen and the rules of the game. sea ​​battle on paper for two.

Learning to play sea battle

The rules of playing sea battle on paper for two people are quite simple. On paper, each player must draw a square of 10x10 cells, which are designated on one side with letters from A to K (without E and J), on the other with numbers from 1 to 10. In this field you need to place your ships.

A second similar square with similar field designations is drawn nearby. On it, during the battle, the player records his shots.

  • When making a “shot,” the player names the coordinates of the target, for example, B8.
  • The opponent answers “by” if there is nothing in the square; "wounded" if his ship was hit; "killed" when the ship is destroyed.
  • Hitting someone else's ship is indicated by a cross. In this case, the rules give the right to the next shot.
  • If you miss, the right to shoot passes to the second player. The winner is the one who first destroys all enemy ships.
  • At the end of the game, the participant can demand that the opponent show his playing field and compare the records of moves.

The rules of the game Sea Battle stipulate not only how many and what size ships participate in the battle, but also their location.

  1. Ship composition: 4 submarines of one cell, 3 destroyers of two cells, 2 cruisers of three cells and one four-cell battleship.
  2. The ships must be drawn so that they do not touch each other under any circumstances. There must be a distance of at least one cell between them.
  3. Ships can be positioned horizontally, vertically, or at the edge of the playing field.

What not to do

They stipulate rules and certain restrictions.

  1. The composition of ships cannot be changed.
  2. Some rules state that one ship can only have linear form, in some variants the shape of the letter G is allowed. This point must be discussed in advance. But in all variants you cannot draw and place ships diagonally.
  3. The field value cannot be changed.
  4. You cannot distort the coordinates and hide the hit.

Strategies

Not only simple rules and the conditions for organizing the game explain the popularity of the game Sea Battle, but also the fact that winning in it is determined not only by luck, but also by the right strategy and tactics. This is a game of two people, which means that emotions and cunning are added to logic. Therefore, a winning strategy involves:

  • Under no circumstances should your opponent be able to see your playing field.
  • Consider your opponent's skill and way of playing. For example, if your opponent is a novice player, then you should not place your ships in the corners of the field. Inexperienced players often start with them, especially with the move A1. If an experienced and long-time opponent is playing with you, who already knows that there can’t be any in the corners of your ships, then it’s worth breaking the pattern and hiding a couple there.
  • Think about the location of your ships. One of the winning strategies is to arrange large ships compactly in one place, and single-celled ships scattered away from each other. Then the player, having quickly found large ships, will spend a lot of time searching for small submarines. This will give you time and a chance to recoup.

Winning tactics

The correct game tactics include several simple techniques.

Be sure to record your opponent's moves on your field, and all your moves on the second playing field. Not only hits are indicated, but also misses. Some do it with dots, others with crosses. This will avoid repeated shelling of empty squares and conflicts in case of any errors.

If the opponent’s ship is “killed” in a naval battle, then the cells surrounding it are immediately marked as empty. After all, we know that the rules prohibit placing ships in them. This saves you time. In this case, the most advantageous shot is at the battleship. Its destruction immediately opens eighteen cells, almost a fifth of the field.

Players' shooting tactics can also be different. You can shoot while making diagonal moves. This way there is a greater chance of catching large ships. You can, in search of a profitable battleship, shoot through three cells to the fourth. After the first hits, the choice of moves is determined based on what begins to appear on the enemy playing field.

Tactics to combat popular fraud, when the opponent displays the last single-deck ship already during the game in the last free cell. To make such deception impossible, the field and ships are drawn in one color, and shots are indicated with a different pen or pencil.

Today, the Battleship game exists both as a tabletop factory set and as computer game, but playing on a simple checkered piece of paper is still fun.

Let's play "Sea Battle"

Content

Simple and exciting game, which has been known since childhood - sea battle. The rules of the game are not very complicated; anyone can remember them. Adults and children like sea battle; you can play it anywhere.

Rules of the game Sea Battle

The essence of the entertainment is that two players take turns calling certain coordinates on the opponent’s map, which is unknown to them. The named point must hit the ship or part of it. The task of each player is to sink all enemy ships first. There are several options for this game today:

  1. On paper. This method is considered a classic entertainment option. It allows you to play anywhere. A checkered notebook or one piece of paper (not even lined) is suitable for battle.
  2. Tabletop. The first version of such entertainment appeared more than 80 years ago. Board game The sea battle was distinguished by its volume and colorfulness. Over time, many variations appeared with different numbers of ships and different field sizes.
  3. On the computer. Modern gadgets can easily be turned into a battlefield for ships by downloading and installing the desired application. There are online gaming options. Features: selected points are recorded automatically, there is voice acting that adds reality to what is happening.

Field

To understand how to play sea battle, you need to understand the basic concepts. You need to start by drawing your playing field. It represents coordinate plane, a square 10 by 10. Each side has its own definitions: the horizontal side is numbered from top to bottom, the vertical side is numbered with letter designations. The letters of the Russian alphabet from “A” to “K” or from “A to “I” are used if “Ё” and “Y” are omitted. Often instead letter designations the words “Snow Maiden” or “Republic” are used. They consist of ten letters, which corresponds to 10 squares on the playing field.

Next to “your” field you need to draw a “foreign” field, which has the same dimensions and coordinates. This is a site for the enemy flotilla. The field is empty and is used to mark your moves and your opponent’s “hits.” Given that there are several coordinate system options, it is recommended to agree in advance which one will be used. Next you need to arrange the ships.

Number and arrangement of ships

There is a certain layout of ships on the playing field. The ship consists of several decks or pipes (hence the name, for example, “double-deck” or “double-pipe”). On the playing field there are:

  • 1 four-deck, ship, battleship, - a row of four cells,
  • 2 three-deck cruisers, rows of 3 cells;
  • 3 double-deckers, destroyers, – rows of 2 cells;
  • 4 single-deck ships, torpedo boats, – 1 cell.

In the classic game, you must draw ships on the playing field according to the rules. For example, all ships cannot touch each other with their sides or corners. There are variants of the game when ships are placed in the letter “L”, squares or zigzags, touching the corners is not prohibited. There are also battles with a different number of ships or their structure, for example, a five-deck (aircraft carrier), several four-deck. When using more ships, a different field shape is used, measuring 15 by 15. You must decide on the choice of game in advance.

Progress of the game

Playing sea battle on paper must be in accordance with certain rules. The instructions determine the conditions and sequence of moves:

  1. Initially, it is chosen who will go with the first. To do this, players cast lots.
  2. When making a “shot”, the player names the coordinates, for example, B3.
  3. If there is nothing in the cell, the opponent says “by.” The ship is located at the named coordinates, then it is “wounded” - if it is hit, “killed” - when it is completely destroyed.
  4. A cross indicates a hit on an enemy ship. With such a successful shot, according to the rules, the player takes a second turn. The right to move is transferred to the second player if the shot lands on an empty field.
  5. The winner is the one who sinks all his opponent's ships first.
  6. At the end of the game, opponents can request each other's playing fields for verification. The loser will be the one whose fields are filled in incorrectly. Victory goes to the one who fought a fair fight.

There are certain restrictions in the game. The game may end early if rules are not followed. The following are considered gross violations:

  1. Incorrectly drawn field - the number of vessels exceeds the required number, the side dimensions or coordinate system are incorrect.
  2. One of the players spied the location of the other's ships.
  3. Skipping a move due to inattention.

Winning strategy

A simple battle is not based solely on luck. To achieve victory, there is a strategy and tactics for playing naval battle. It is as follows:

  1. The sheet with the lined field must be held so that the enemy cannot see.
  2. For convenience and reporting, it is recommended to mark enemy shots with dots.
  3. The most vulnerable ships are the battleship and torpedo boat. The first one is very large, so it is easy to spot. Torpedo boats are small and difficult to find on the field, but they sink with one hit.
  4. Beginners often aim at the corners of the playing square, so drawing them there is not recommended.
  5. Experienced players advise immediately coming up with a layout for the ships on the field. Good results can be achieved if you arrange the flotilla units according to the scheme. For example, by gathering cruisers and battleships in one place, and placing boats and destroyers in a chaotic order.
  6. Techniques for shooting at a flotilla can be different. To quickly destroy a battleship, it is recommended to start searching for it diagonally. You need to shoot at squares on 4, through 3 cells. Then you need to move in descending order: look for three-decker, two-decker and single boats.

Video

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“Sea Battle” is an exciting and simple game that does not require special equipment or special knowledge. It can be played both on a computer and on paper, and once only the second option was used, since there was no other option. Not everyone knows how to play Battleship, because either there was no opportunity to learn, or there was no “teacher”. In any case, such knowledge can be useful. The rules of the game “Battleship” are simple; anyone can remember them, regardless of age and level of intelligence.

General

The game "Battleship" has long captivated many people. It is interesting, exciting, and most importantly, it does not require any expenses. To play with a person together, you will need two sheets of checkered paper (preferably) and two pens (or 2 pencils).

“Battleship” is useful not only because it allows you to have a good time. The game also helps develop strategic thinking and intuition. If you and the person know each other, you have the opportunity to use information about the enemy. For example, your assumptions about how he might place ships so that they are difficult to find, how you would bet if you were in his place, may be confirmed and help you win.

Rules

Well, we can proceed to the main part. Now you will learn how to play “Battleship”:

1. First, you need to draw two squares measuring 10x10 cells on a sheet of paper (of course, it’s easier to draw on a sheet of paper with a checkered pattern). Then, in both pictures, put on the top row the letters from A to K (from left to right, skipping E and J), and to the left of the squares - numbers from 1 to 10 (from top to bottom).

2. On the left square you need to place:

  • 1 ship consisting of 4 cells;
  • 2 ships, consisting of 3 cells;
  • 3 ships, consisting of 2 cells;
  • 4 ships, consisting of 1 cell.

Ships cannot touch each other either on their sides or corners. It is important that there is at least one free cell between them. Ships can touch the edges of the playing field, and they must be positioned only vertically and horizontally (diagonally not).

The right square should remain empty.

3. The goal of each player is to destroy enemy ships. The one who goes first (by agreement or by chance (using lots)) names the coordinates (letter-number), looking at the right empty square. For example, E7. The opponent looks at his left drawing, where his ships are located, and answers:

a) past;
b) wounded;
c) killed.

The first option means that the player ended up on an empty cell, that is, he did not end up anywhere. He marks this place in his right square so as not to choose it a second time (most often with a cross, but in any other convenient way), and meanwhile the turn passes to the second player.

The second option means that the player is in a multi-deck ship (occupying from 2 to 4 cells). By marking it on your map right place, a person has the right to the next move until he misses. So, if after shouting E7 the answer “wounded” follows, the player can call either E6, or Z7, or E8, or D7 in order to finish off the wounded ship (by the way, this is not necessary, you can temporarily leave it alone and look for others) . The second player again answers “by”, “wounded” or “killed”.

The third option means that the enemy ship is destroyed. If this happened on the first move, it means it was single-deck (consisting of one cell), which can be called a great success. If from the second (for example, after E7 the player said E6), it means double-decker, etc. After knocking out a ship, as well as after being wounded, the player walks until he receives the answer “past”.

4. The move passes from one player to another in case of a miss and is delayed by one of the opponents in case of a successful hit. The winner is the person who is the first to find and destroy all enemy ships.

Other variations

Sometimes “Battleship” is on paper, and sometimes it is on a computer, as mentioned earlier. And if the first option requires a real, living opponent, then in the latter case you can play with robots. True, firstly, it will not be so interesting (the enemy’s reaction when you sink his ship is priceless), and secondly, the opportunity to peek into the enemy fleet is absolutely excluded (we all understand that some people try to cheat).

One way or another, it’s not difficult to come up with other, more expanded versions of the game; it all depends on the imagination of the players and their desire/ability to experiment. It is important to immediately clarify all the rules, because if it is not clear to every person how to play “Battleship”, the rules of which you have come up with, nothing good will come of it, and there will be no quality game.

For example, you can add more cells to the “battlefield” (not 10x10, but 20x20, for example), and then either leave the number of ships or increase them. You can complicate the task so much that all the ships that the enemy needs to find are single-deck. You can make mines, and if they hit them, the enemy misses one turn. There are a lot of options, the main thing is to know in moderation.

Conclusion

That's all, now you have met new game and you know its rules. The question “how to play “Battleship”” should be settled. From now on, you and your friends will have something to do during boring lessons/lectures or at work, if you can be close to each other and write on sheets of paper.

A couple of days ago, I was surprised to learn that some of my friends do not know how to play sea battle. Those. They, of course, know the rules, but they play somehow haphazardly and in the end they often lose. In this post I will try to outline the main ideas that will help improve your game.

Rules of the game

There are many options for naval combat, but we will consider the most common option with the following set of ships:

All listed ships must be placed on a square field of 10 by 10 cells, and the ships cannot touch either the corners or sides. The playing field itself is numbered from top to bottom, and the verticals are marked with Russian letters from “A” to “K” (the letters “Y” and “Y” are skipped).

An enemy field of similar size is drawn nearby. If there is a successful shot at the enemy ship, a cross is placed on the corresponding cell of the enemy field and a second shot is fired; if the shot is unsuccessful, a dot is placed in the corresponding cell and the turn goes to the enemy.

Optimal strategy

There is always an element of randomness in a naval battle game, but it can be kept to a minimum. Before proceeding directly to the search for the optimal strategy, it is necessary to voice one obvious thing: the probability of hitting an enemy ship is higher, the fewer unchecked cells are left on his field, similarly, the probability of hitting your ships is lower, the more unchecked cells are left on your field. That. To play effectively, you need to learn two things at once: optimal shooting at the enemy and optimal placement of your ships.

In the following explanation the following notation will be used:

Optimal shooting
The first and most obvious rule for optimal shooting is next rule: Do not shoot at cells directly surrounding the destroyed enemy ship.

In accordance with the notations adopted above, in the figure those cells on which unsuccessful shots have already been fired are marked in yellow, cells on which shots ended in hits are marked in red, and cells on which were not fired were marked in green, but it can be guaranteed that the ships there are no ships in them (there cannot be ships there, because according to the rules of the game, ships cannot touch).

The second rule immediately follows from the first rule: if you manage to knock out an enemy ship, you must immediately finish it off in order to get a list of guaranteed free cells as early as possible.

The third rule follows from the first two: you must first try to knock out the largest enemy ships. This rule may not be obvious to you, but if you think a little, you can easily notice that by destroying an enemy battleship, at best, we will immediately receive information about 14 guaranteed free cells, and by destroying a cruiser, only about 12.

That. The optimal shooting strategy can be reduced to a targeted search and destruction of the largest enemy ships. Unfortunately, it is not enough to formulate a strategy; it is necessary to propose a way to implement it.

First, let's look at a section of the playing field measuring 4 by 4 cells. If there is an enemy battleship in the area in question, then it is guaranteed to be knocked out in no more than 4 shots. To do this, you need to shoot so that there is exactly one checked cell on each horizontal and vertical line. All variants of such shooting are presented below (without taking into account reflections and rotations).

Among all these options, only the first two options are optimal on a 10 by 10 square field, guaranteeing a hit to the battleship in a maximum of 24 shots.

After the enemy battleship is destroyed, it is necessary to begin the search for cruisers, and then destroyers. In this case, as you already guessed, you can use a similar technique. Only now it is necessary to divide the field into squares with a side of 3 and 2 cells, respectively.

If you used the second strategy when searching for a battleship, then to search for cruisers and destroyers you need to shoot at the following fields (fields that you have already shot at when searching for a battleship are marked in green):

There is no optimal strategy for finding boats, so at the end of the game you have to rely mainly on luck.

Optimal placement of ships
The optimal ship placement strategy is in some ways the inverse of the optimal shooting strategy. When shooting, we tried to find the largest ships in order to reduce the number of cells that needed to be checked by guaranteeing free cells. This means that when placing ships, they must be placed in such a way that in case of their loss, the number of guaranteed free cells is minimized. As you remember, a battleship in the center of the field opens 14 fields for the enemy at once, but a battleship standing in the corner opens only 6 fields for the enemy:

Likewise, a cruiser standing in the corner opens only 6 instead of 12 fields. Thus, by placing large ships along the border of the field, you leave more space for boats. Because There is no strategy for finding boats, the enemy will have to shoot at random, and the more free fields you have left by the time you catch the boats, the harder it will be for the enemy to win.

Below are three ways to deploy large ships that leave plenty of room for boats (in blue):

Each of the above arrangements leaves exactly 60 free cells for boats, which means that the probability of accidentally getting into a boat is 0.066. For comparison, it’s worth giving a random arrangement of ships:

With this arrangement, only 21 cells remain for boats, which means that the probability of hitting a boat is already 0.19, i.e. almost 3 times higher.

In conclusion, I would like to say that you should not spend too much time playing naval battle. I especially want to warn you against playing during lectures. While I was sitting in Wabi-Sabi playing battleship with my girlfriend, a waitress walked by and said that she was quite good at playing because... I practiced a lot in pairs. Who knows what she would have worked like if she had listened to lectures in her time?

P.S. The comments absolutely correctly indicate that there were already similar publications on the hub; it would be wrong not to provide links to them.