Introduction

Battleship, also known as "Bataille navale," is a popular guessing and strategy game for two players. Originally played with paper and pencil, it later became a physical board game with plastic grids and ships. The goal is simple: sink all of your opponent’s ships before they sink yours.

Game Setup

• Players: 2
• Equipment: Each player has a 10x10 grid (with rows labeled A–J and columns 1–10), plus a fleet of ships.
• Fleet composition (classic version):
  • 1 Carrier (5 spaces)
  • 1 Battleship (4 spaces)
  • 1 Cruiser (3 spaces)
  • 1 Submarine (3 spaces)
  • 1 Destroyer (2 spaces)
• Placing ships: Each player secretly places their ships on their grid, either horizontally or vertically. Ships cannot overlap or extend beyond the grid.

Objective of the Game

The objective is to sink all of your opponent’s ships by correctly guessing the coordinates of their locations.

Basic Rules of Play

1. Taking turns: Players alternate turns, calling out a grid coordinate (e.g., "B7").
2. Hit or miss: The opponent announces if the shot is a "hit" (a ship occupies that coordinate) or a "miss."
3. Recording shots: Players use a separate tracking grid to mark hits and misses on the opponent’s board.
4. Sinking ships: When all spaces of a ship have been hit, the opponent must announce "You sunk my [ship name]!"
5. Winning: The first player to sink the entire fleet of the opponent wins the game.

Strategies and Tips

• Spread out your ships: Avoid clustering them, as this makes it easier for your opponent to find them.
• Use a checkerboard pattern: When guessing, alternate shots like a checkerboard to maximize efficiency.
• Focus on hits: Once you score a hit, concentrate on surrounding coordinates to finish sinking the ship.

Game Variations

Battleship has several variations, including:

• Salvo version: Players fire multiple shots per turn (one for each ship they still have afloat).
• Advanced rules: Some versions include special weapons, airstrikes, or larger grids.
• Electronic Battleship: A modern edition with lights, sounds, and automatic hit detection.