Do you prefer games of chance or strategy?

[AARPLynne]

Do you prefer games of chance or strategy? Do you lean towards one or the other, or do you play a little of both? Backgammon provides the best of both!

[MedusaE76171]

I prefer both, playing simple, time management games on the PC, Backgammon with my husband, etc. BUT, my favorite, favorite game is chess. I love chess with an embarrassing passion, especially as I'm terrible at it. LOL

My adult son and I love playing chess together, especially variants (like "fairy chess"), which involves different pieces that move in non-traditional ways. My favorite of these is "Gothic Chess," which uses, in addition to the standard pieces, a Princess (which moves like a Bishop and a Knight) and an Empress (which moves like a Rook and a Knight). These are what's called compound pieces, but not all non-standard pieces are compounds.

Anyway, I almost always lose, such that when I win, my son is gracious enough to let me take a picture of the board. 🙂 lol

My son tells me that I have a good offensive game, but my problem is with my king... and keeping it out of checkmate. lol

In fact, we both really enjoy the game so much that we are giving each other more chess pieces and a new board for Christmas.

Chess is an amazing game of war that evokes so many emotions: fear, anger, blood-lust, panic, crushing sadness (usually at the loss of a Rook, for my son), etc.

Anyway, Chess.

[RubblaP696075]

Both .

[MiaL618414]

When it comes to video gaming, definitely strategy is my thing. Halo Wars, FrostPunk 2, definitely Tomb Raider for PS1.. Omg, played that a few weeks ago on my PS3 after many, many years and I was so frustrated throughout the game yet felt so great that I finally beat it. Lol

[VirginiaS66146]

I play scrabble with whoever wants to join & play. I play with a lady from England now.

Come joint me.

[k160636d]

I love scrabble and enjoy outspell.

[MiaL618414]

I would say a bit of both. Just the other day I played checkers and Trouble which I have not played in years. I also like games that mentally challenge you to think & whatnot. Ex.. Scrabble for instance or Charades.

[Janet80]

I like both for different reasons, but I think I like the strategy ones a bit more...good for the brain.  I'd love to see AARP Games Site offer Pinochle & maybe even Hearts, Spades & Gin.  How about anyone else??

[LindaY353682]

Janet80.....An AARP site with Pino, Hearts, Spades, Gin, would be Wow&Wow.....

another Wow if it had Monopoly.

[MariaR141262]

Strategy 

[Debo]

Once again, I thought I'd try playing Blackjack this quiet Sunday morning.   After several hands of losing to the house, I reaffirmed the game to be a total loss of precious time, in my opinion.   Obviously I could be doing something else way more productive.   My intention is to eventually quit AARP Blackjack altogether in favor of more interesting activities.😀👍   Have a great day everyone!!!

[r447879w]

I like games of strategy, arcade games, mahjongg games. Just keep it simple because I play games to unwind not get more stressed out. Lol

[fm6987]

strategy games.

[Debo]

As "gryphon53" shared at 10:07pm on 2-22-2021, I prefer games with fair scores among ALL players.  There's hardly any chance for fair competition among people trying to play the majority of games on AARP.  It didn't take me long to realize I'd have to play by myself and try to improve my own personal score on whatever game I select.  For instance, how in the world can the same people get daily, weekly and monthly Blackjack scores in the MILLIONS when average everyday players are lucky if they can win 3 hands in a row before losing to the house?  It's very frustrating and not even the least bit fun, in my opinion.  I'm giving serious thought to giving up playing AARP games altogether.  At this point, I play a couple games of Lumeno almost daily only because it helps me to relax a little; and I'm not trying to compete with anyone else.  Yes, more ALONE time, as if we didn't already have enough of THAT in our senior years.  Okay, so thanks for "listening" 😀👍

[DimitriosZ465333]

strategy games

[Loulit]

Online I play chess with the USCF.

IRL I like to throw things. Footballs, baseballs, Frisbees, skip stones, make my dog fetch, just keep moving.

At the casino I play roulette. Worst odds of any game in the house but I will not stare at slot machines, boring.

Blackjack, if you don't do what's expected the player who gets the next card gets grumpy. 

Craps, can get rowdy and there are too many betting options.

Roulette I just bet on red and watch the players at the table. Many interesting facial expressions to see. 😒

[AvocadoDog]

Oh, man, games of strategy and skill and knowledge, every single time!  No exceptions!

...Well, except when I'm in Vegas and for some reason I play slots. That's chance, all right — a good chance I'm going to be hitch-hiking back home after losing all my money!

[gryphon53]

I prefer games that are fair, you know fair scores. I think most adults do.

[LuvenaT238312]

I have a board here at home and my son and I play when he comes over, but we usually play games that everybody can play -- 10,000, Kings Wild, Scrabble, etc.

[tjon72]

Chance..........Craps!

[DiannaM386831]

strategy

[DeanneD23858]

Strategy - Dominoes 

[VirginiaS66146]

I like to play Scrabble. I currently play with two people. Enjoy/win or loose it if fun.

[ciptra38]

lose !!

[LuvenaT238312]

I play Scrabble and Scrabble Go with a lot of people and I love the challenges they have the best.

[cn8777]

I love Poker on Facebook! I play with people from all over the world, and yes, it’s a game of change, strategy and downright biting the nails, when you place a bet of All In, to win 10 million. It’s totally mind blowing!

I like Lumeno, and Pyramid Solitaire, because the right brain and the left brain always think differently so, which way to go, instinct, or thinking, but if your on a time factor, then it’s a spur of the moment.

I love puzzles, because it reminds me of my Mom, we always played puzzles. I asked her how do you find pieces, she said pick up the piece, look at the shape of it, try to find other colors that blend with it, maybe lines, pictures, and then build around that piece and oh, what an idea! It made me Love it even more. I do 100 pieces, and I have run into hard puzzles but it’s the hunt of the Picture!

I also love Grand Theft Auto, because it makes me laugh so much, smashing into other vehicles or when the police chase you, can you outwit them?! Plus, you have to read a map, know where you have to go, avoid gangsters, which are calling you all the time!

I also Love Modern Warfare 2, who doesn’t like to shoot off 🚀 Rockets, blow up tanks, and hear a Sargent yelling in your ear- private, where the hell are you? Because of course, I’m running far away from anything, laughing so hard! 
I do Love Phase 10 on Facebook, because my brain gets turned around so many times, and I always say, Hey, look at what needs to be done, not what you want. You play against a computer, with 3 others, now that can be 😁 funny.

The main thing in games, is to keep laughing, no stressful ones, just HAVE FUN and redirect your Brain!

[ddstil]

I wish you had games that involve problem solving. You solve challenges and puzzles and progress along a story line. Examples are “ The Room” and “ House of Davinci” they are great brain exercise and fun for seniors. 

[AARPLynne]

Hi, @ddstil, thanks for the suggestion! Currently we don't have any games in the problem solving space like The Room and House of Da Vinci which wrap more than one puzzle in a storyline. The games that we have as a part of Staying Sharp are more casual in general but have some of the same elements found in the games you're referring to. Here are a few suggestions for your consideration:

• https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/games-play/daily-puzzle: Play a puzzle a day, be sure to check out the previous puzzles. The puzzles vary each day but would include some of the same type of problems found in the games above.
• https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/games-play/path-finder/: Path Finder asks the user to complete a path by rotation tiles, seems like it might be a good suggestion for the member as well.
• https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/games-play/double-up/: Double Up is more of a memory game that we have launched recently that has quickly become top 5 on Staying Sharp.

We're also working on adding categories for our games on Staying Sharp and allowing users to filter by them to find the types of games they are looking for. We would love to have a game as immersive as the examples that aligns with the Staying Sharp product in the future. Thanks again!

[H967349]

Those sound fun! Where can I find those games?

[dhollis]

I run the gambit. I do all of the NY Times daily games (only mini crossword), the dictionary.com crossword plus a mosiac (pattern recognition) and a hidden object - everyday before I try to accomplish anything else. Get's the brain moving in all directions. Love it!