Adding Skill to Board Games Using Dice

In many board games using dice, such as Monopoly and Easy Money, each player moves a piece on a board, the number of squares advanced being equal to the sum of the numbers appearing on the two dice thrown. An element of skill can be added to these games by giving the players, on their turn, the choice of advancing their pieces the number of squares equal to either the sum or the (nonnegative) difference of the numbers appearing on the dice. (A difference of zero, if chosen for the move, results in the piece remaining in place for that turn.)

An alternate method of increasing the skill level required for games such as Monopoly and Easy Money where each player moves a single piece is to have each player play two pieces. The players could either move one of the pieces the number of squares equal to the number on one of the dice, and the other piece, the other number, or advance one piece the sum of the numbers on the two dice.

The game variants described above increase the likelihood that the bank will run out of money before the players do. If that should occur, the winner is the player with the most money (not including property).

For the game of Parcheesi, where the players are allowed to move separate pieces the number of squares equal to the number on each die, the skill of this game can be enhanced by allowing the players, on their turn, to either move in the usual manner or move one piece an amount equal to the sum of the dice and another (or the same) piece an amount equal to the (nonnegative) difference of the dice. (A difference of five can be used to bring a piece from the nest into the area of play.)