Abstract strategy game

Abstract strategy games are games like chess, checkers (draughts), and Go. They are typically strategy games with minimal or no narrative theme, an outcome determined mostly by player choice (with minimal or no randomness; deterministic), and in which there is little to no hidden information (also called perfect information games). Pure abstract strategy games are typically governed by simple, explicit rules whose strategic depth arises from combinatorial complexity. Abstract strategy games are also games of analytical skill, usually with significant depth or strategic complexity. Skill grows over time as players develop experience, and a greater understanding of a specific game. Experienced players with greater ability to analyze multiple moves in advance will almost always beat beginners at abstract strategy games.

There are numerous types of abstract strategy games, from pure strategy to mixed strategy games that may have elements of random or hidden information. Go, Pente and checkers are "pure" abstract perfect information games since they perfectly fulfill all three criteria; chess games, tafl games and Hive feature recognizable themes (though they are highly stylized or minimalistic); Stratego is a borderline or exception case, since it is deterministic, loosely based on Napoleonic warfare, and features some concealed information. Furthermore, some games with elements of chance, like backgammon and pachisi, may also be considered abstract strategy games, though there is disagreement on this issue among ludologists. However, since they contain an element of luck and randomness, they are not "pure" abstract strategy games.