List

Counter games for two

Traffic Lights
game

Traffic lights

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
The game uses a 3x3 square board. 2 players take turns to play, either placing a red on an empty square, or changing a red to orange, or orange to green. The player who forms 3 of 1 colour in a line wins.
Low Go
game

Low go

Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
A game for 2 players. Take turns to place a counter so that it occupies one of the lowest possible positions in the grid. The first player to complete a line of 4 wins.
Gotcha
game

Gotcha

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
A game for 2 players. This could be played outside with people instead of counters. Try to trap or escape from your opponent.
Tandems
game

Tandems

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
A fun game for two. You'll need some counters.
Tac-Tickle
game

Tac-tickle

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
This is a challenging game of strategy for two players with many interesting variations.
Pumpkin Patch
game

Pumpkin patch

Age
5 to 18
A game for two players based on a game from the Somali people of Africa. The first player to pick all the other's 'pumpkins' is the winner.
Alquerque
game

Alquerque

Age
5 to 18
This game for two, was played in ancient Egypt as far back as 1400 BC. The game was taken by the Moors to Spain, where it is mentioned in 13th century manuscripts, and the Spanish name Alquerque derives from the Arabic El- quirkat. Watch out for being 'huffed'.
Part the Piles
game

Part the piles

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
Try to stop your opponent from being able to split the piles of counters into unequal numbers. Can you find a strategy?
Twinkle Twinkle
game

Twinkle twinkle

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
A game for 2 people. Take turns placing a counter on the star. You win when you have completed a line of 3 in your colour.
Roundabout
game

Roundabout

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

This is a game for 2 players. Each player has 4 counters each, and wins by blocking their opponent's counters. A good follow-on from two stones.

Subtraction Squares
game

Subtraction squares

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

A game for 2 players. Using 2 dice, some counters and a games board, can you form a line of counters from one side of the board to the other?

Two Stones
game

Two stones

Age
5 to 18

This game is known as Pong hau k'i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Why not challenge a friend to play it with you?