Risk board game: rules and winning strategy
Also known as: La Conquête du Monde
How to play Risk: place armies, attack territories with dice and hold whole continents for bonus troops in this classic world map game. Rules and strategy.
- Type
- Board game
- Players
- 2–6
- First released
- 1957
- Designed by
- Albert Lamorisse
Risk is a classic game of military strategy played on a map of the world divided into 42 territories grouped into six continents. Players place armies, attack neighbouring territories with dice and try to control the map. The game was invented by the French film director Albert Lamorisse and first published in France in 1957 under the name La Conquête du Monde, meaning the conquest of the world. In the standard game the goal is to eliminate every other player, although many editions include shorter mission-based rules. Risk is known for long games, bold alliances and sudden reversals of fortune, and it has introduced many people to the idea of strategic board games.
Our verdict
Risk offers big decisions on a big map: where to expand, which continent to defend and when to strike. The dice give each battle real suspense, and the shifting temporary alliances between players create memorable stories. It is a good way to talk about geography with older children, and many people play it as a long weekend event. Groups that enjoy diplomacy and do not mind long sessions can find it very rewarding, while modern variants with secret missions make shorter games possible.
What works
- Exciting dice battles
- Simple core rules
- Encourages negotiation and alliances
What does not
- Full games can last several hours
- Eliminated players may wait a long time with nothing to do
How to play Risk
At the start, players divide the territories and place their armies. Each turn has three phases. First, receive new armies: one for every three territories you hold, with a minimum of three, plus a bonus for each whole continent you control, plus extra armies if you trade in a set of territory cards. Second, attack: from any territory with at least two armies, you may attack a neighbouring enemy territory. The attacker rolls up to three dice and the defender up to two. Compare the highest dice in pairs; for each pair the lower die loses one army, and the defender wins ties. If the defending territory is emptied, you move armies in and take it. If you conquered at least one territory this turn, draw a card. Third, make one free move of armies between two of your connected territories. A player who loses all territories is out.
Tips for new players
- Australia and South America are easy to defend because they have few entry points.
- Do not spread your armies thinly; a few strong borders are better than many weak ones.
- Try to conquer at least one territory every turn to collect cards.
- Avoid becoming the clear leader too early, or other players will unite against you.
Good for
Risk: common questions
Who invented Risk?
Risk was invented by the French film director Albert Lamorisse and first published in France in 1957.
How many players can play Risk?
Classic editions support two to six players, with special rules for two.
How can I make a game of Risk shorter?
Use secret mission rules if your edition includes them, or agree to end after a fixed number of rounds and count territories.
Risk belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
