Guides
Play better, one idea at a time
Short, practical reads on the games we make — the ideas that matter most, explained plainly, with nothing to memorise.
Jam Breaker · 7 min read ·
Jam Breaker, Solved Step by Step: Reading a Real Car Park in 14 Moves
We take one real Jam Breaker puzzle and solve it from the first look to the last slide — why the obvious move fails, how to find the chain of cars that really matters, and how the 14-move Perfect comes together.
Getting started · 5 min read ·
Which Game Should You Play? A Guide for Families, Friends and Five-Minute Breaks
Thirteen games is a lot to choose from. Here is how to pick one by the people you are with and the time you have — from a one-minute round of Tic-Tac-Toe to a ten-lap race.
Chess · 5 min read ·
Chess Openings for Beginners: Five Principles That Beat Memorising
You do not need to learn opening lines to start a chess game well. Five simple principles will carry you through the first ten moves of almost any game.
Carrom · 5 min read ·
Carrom: When to Go for the Queen, and How to Cover It
The red queen is worth three points and loses more games than it wins. Here is how the cover rule works, when to take the queen on, and how to line up the shot that follows.
Ludo · 5 min read ·
Ludo Strategy: Seven Habits That Win More Games
Ludo is decided by dice — and by what you do with them. Seven habits, from spreading your tokens to counting the squares behind you, that tilt the odds your way.
Puzzles · 6 min read ·
How to Solve Sudoku Without Guessing
Every well-made Sudoku can be solved by logic alone. Four techniques — scanning, singles, pairs and box-line reasoning — take you from the first digit to the last.
Checkers & Draughts · 4 min read ·
Checkers vs International Draughts: What Is the Difference?
They look alike and share a family tree, but checkers and international draughts are different games. A side-by-side comparison of the board, the captures and the kings.
Getting started · 4 min read ·
How to Play Board Games Online with Friends Using a Room Code
A step-by-step walk through creating a room on Alex Play Zone, inviting friends with a code or a link, playing in teams, and what happens if someone’s connection drops.