Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Stratego is a two-player strategy board game where hidden information, careful planning, and memory decide the outcome of battle. Each player commands an army on a shared game board, attempting to outmaneuver their opponent, eliminate key threats, and ultimately capture the opponent’s flag.

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How to Play Stratego

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Game Overview

• Players: 2
• Ages: 8 and up
• Objective: Capture the enemy flag before your opponent captures yours.

Stratego is defined by deception, controlled risk, and tactical movement. No two games play the same.

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Components

• Game board
• Fortress screen
• 40 red army pieces
• 40 blue army pieces
• Display tray
• Label sheet

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Army Composition

Each player controls an identical army consisting of:

Moveable Pieces (33)

• Marshal (10) – highest rank
• General (9)
• Colonels (8)
• Majors (7)
• Captains (6)
• Lieutenants (5)
• Sergeants (4)
• Miners (3)
• Scouts (2)
• Spy (S)

Higher numbers indicate a higher piece’s rank. Some lower-ranked pieces have special abilities.

Stationary Pieces (7)

• 6 Bombs
• 1 Flag

Bombs and the flag never move.

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Setup

1. Place the game board between players with the Stratego logo facing both sides.
2. Randomly determine the first player and army color.
3. Use the fortress screen to hide your setup from your opponent.
4. Arrange your pieces in the back row and the three rows in front of it on your half of the board.
5. The center two rows, which include the lake areas, remain empty.
6. Remove the screen once both players finish placing their armies.

Each square may hold only one piece.

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Taking Turns

• Players take alternate turns, starting with the first player.
• On your turn, you must either move one piece or attack, not both.
• If you cannot make a legal move or attack, you lose the game.

A piece may not move back and forth between the same two spaces in three consecutive turns.

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Movement Rules

• Only moveable pieces may be moved.
• Pieces move one space forward, backward, or sideways.
• Diagonal movement is not allowed.
• Pieces may not move onto or through lake areas.
• Bombs and the flag never move.

Scout Movement

Scouts may move any number of open spaces in a straight line. This mobility makes them useful for exploration but also reveals their identity.

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Attacking Rules

Piece Attacks

A piece may attack an opponent’s piece if they occupy adjacent spaces (not diagonally).

To resolve an attack:

1. The attacker declares their rank.
2. The defender declares their rank.
3. The piece with the lower rank is removed.
4. The winning piece occupies the defeated piece’s space.
5. If ranks are equal, both pieces are removed.

Attacking is always optional.

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Special Piece Abilities

Bombs

• Destroy any attacking piece except Miners.
• Bombs cannot move or attack.

Miners

• The only pieces capable of defusing bombs.
• When a Miner attacks a Bomb, the Bomb is removed and the Miner advances.

Scouts

• Can move unlimited spaces.
• Are the only pieces allowed to move and attack in the same turn.

Spy

• Can defeat the Marshal only if it attacks first.
• If attacked by any piece, the Spy is removed.

Marshal

• The strongest unit by rank.
• Vulnerable to the Spy if careless.

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Winning the Game

You win by:

• Successfully capturing your opponent’s flag, or
• Eliminating all of your opponent’s moveable pieces, leaving them unable to act.

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Strategy Tips

• Protect your flag in the back row using bombs, but avoid over-clustering.
• Preserve your miners; they are essential for breaking bomb defenses.
• Use scouts early to identify opponent’s pieces, then save some for later flag runs.
• Avoid advancing high-ranking pieces blindly into unknown territory.
• Watch for unmoving clusters of opponent’s pieces, which often indicate bombs and the enemy flag.
• Keep track of revealed ranks to determine who controls the highest rank on the board.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can bombs attack or move?
No. Bombs are stationary and only affect attacking pieces.

What happens if two pieces of the same rank fight?
Both pieces are removed from the game.

Can the Spy defeat any piece?
No. The Spy can only defeat the Marshal, and only if it attacks first.

What are the lake areas used for?
Lakes block movement and attacks, creating natural barriers on the board.

Is memory important in Stratego?
Yes. Remembering revealed opponent’s pieces is critical to long-term success.

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Conclusion

Stratego is a timeless strategy game that rewards patience, deception, and tactical awareness. By mastering piece abilities, planning safe advances, and reading your opponent’s intentions, you can turn hidden information into a decisive advantage and claim victory by capturing the enemy flag.