Martin Lewis: How to win at board games

[Roland Kensdale]

In England: https://www.itv.com/watch/martin-lewis: ... a4903a0001

(Scotland on the STV player)

Martin looks at 4 games:
Connect 4 - aim to get 3 in a row, open at either end, or even better a '7' shape making 3 in 2 directions.

Scrabble - among the tips learn the 120 odd 2 word strings, then start on 3 word strings, especially those with 'power letters' (high scoring letters).

Monopoly - understand probabilities with 2 dice to buy the most landed on properties, buy the properties with the greatest 'return on investment'. Use all the rules: if your opponent doesn't buy a property put it up for auction. Aim for 3 houses across your sets before building more. Consider buying properties just to stop your opponent making sets. Mortgage properties of little value to get the money to win the game (houses etc.)

Backgammon - here he just scratched the surface, Martin lost 2 games to his sprightly 90 year old opponent who blocked Martin's pieces so they couldn't escape. He mentioned the social benefits of game playing, especially for older people.

Martin plays Scrabble with his wife and logs the scores on a spreadsheet!

[MJMcCready]

In England: https://www.itv.com/watch/martin-lewis: ... a4903a0001

(Scotland on the STV player)

Martin looks at 4 games:
Connect 4 - aim to get 3 in a row, open at either end, or even better a '7' shape making 3 in 2 directions.

Scrabble - among the tips learn the 120 odd 2 word strings, then start on 3 word strings, especially those with 'power letters' (high scoring letters).

Monopoly - understand probabilities with 2 dice to buy the most landed on properties, buy the properties with the greatest 'return on investment'. Use all the rules: if your opponent doesn't buy a property put it up for auction. Aim for 3 houses across your sets before building more. Consider buying properties just to stop your opponent making sets. Mortgage properties of little value to get the money to win the game (houses etc.)

Backgammon - here he just scratched the surface, Martin lost 2 games to his sprightly 90 year old opponent who blocked Martin's pieces so they couldn't escape. He mentioned the social benefits of game playing, especially for older people.

Martin plays Scrabble with his wife and logs the scores on a spreadsheet!

If you want to learn how to win at Monopoly, read former world champion Giles Brandreth's book on it, it's by far the best written and will improve your hame enormously.

Chess players are often described as having good memories but it is scrabble players who should be described with that attribute since their momories tend to be vastly superior owing to the thousands and thousands of words that they have to remember