Register

Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Location: Mind Sports Centre, 21 Dalling Rd, LONDON, W6 0JD

What are strategy games?

Strategy games are designed to test your thinking to the limit.  Each player is solving a problem, trying to outwit the other.  Your moves affect what your opponent can do, and theirs affect what you can do.  The key element of strategy games is that your success is down to your own efforts because luck has little to no impact. These games are amongst the deepest challenges that humanity has devised.

The LSGF is a unique event allowing people to learn strategy games and to play against others. We celebrate the rise of strategy games played on a tabletop. If you are curious about strategy games, then come along and learn from experts and play with like-minded participants.

The event is open to all, from beginner to expert.  All you need is an interest in games and a willingness to learn. Whether you are already a regular player, a parent or home schooler looking for suitable games, a teacher exploring classroom games, a retiree looking for a new hobby, or an events organiser looking for activities, there is something for you.

We have chosen a mix of classical games and modern games:

  • Chess, Bridge and Go and their variants which are the mainstay of the MindSports Centre.
  • Shogi, a strategy game popular in Japan, and Oware, a traditional game of the Mancala family with roots across various African cultures.
  • Modern Classics played at the Mind Sports Olympiad: Othello, Quoridor, Abalone, Amazons, Lines of Action, Hive.
  • Non-chess games played on a chessboard, many of which are suitable for schools such as halma, sliding rooks, joust, cats and dogs, slimetrail and interference.
  • You’ll also be able to playtest board games that are in the development stage.
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Absolutely! The Festival is intended to make the public aware of the wonderful world of strategy games. We welcome total beginners and people who are already familiar with some games but would like to stretch themselves into some other games. You can learn from scratch and you will be able to play against others who are just starting too.

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    A game session is a two-hour slot in a designated room led by an expert who teaches the basic rules and principles of the game. You can then play with others in the group until the end of the session. There are four teaching rooms. One room is for free play in which you can continue a session or try other games.

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We recommend that you focus on 3 to 4 games to get the most out of your experience, but you’re welcome to try more if you’d like. You can choose which games to play. When you purchase the ticket, you’ll fill out a short survey to help us gauge interest in each game and plan sessions accordingly. Of course, you’re free to explore other games on the day as well.

We encourage participants to stay in the same session once it begins. However, instructors may create sub-sessions (30 minutes or 1 hour), allowing you to explore another room before the session ends. Please note that the venue is not very large, and we aim to minimise movement to avoid disruption. The largest room is on the ground floor; the other three rooms are upstairs and accessible only by stairs (there is no lift).

Some areas of the venue (Warwick room, T Mark Hall room and Meeting room) can only be reached by stairs and may not be suitable for people with limited mobility. There is no elevator available. We apologise for any inconvenience and will do our best to assist if needed.

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Children aged 10 and above are welcome. They will love many of the games and may subsequently wish to pursue these games with friends and family.  Children must be actively supervised by their accompanying adult.

A selection of food and drinks will be available for purchase at the venue’s bar throughout the day. No outside food or beverages (except water) may be brought into the premises.

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There is a discount if an adult and a child are booked together.

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Some people come just to learn during the day. Others come for the game design session or to play in the tournament in the evening. It will be an intense day of gaming, so we do not expect everybody to stay the whole day, but you are welcome to if you wish.

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If there is room available, you can join a session that has already begun. Anticipate that there may need to be some chair moving. However, you cannot expect the teacher to repeat what they have already explained to the group.

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You will learn how to play specific games which have been carefully chosen for their depth, sociability and educational value.  You will develop an awareness of a games with which you were unfamiliar. You will meet others with whom you may continue your game journey.

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The MindSports Centre is London’s premier venue for classic strategy games. It was founded by players of Go, Bridge, and Chess, and now welcomes anyone interested in exploring the world of mind sports.  The Centre hosts events, lessons, and casual play sessions to allow players of all levels to enjoy and study strategy games.

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In this session, you will meet a panel of expert board game designers. You will learn about the creative process behind the creation of a new game, and you get to chance to test prototypes and offer feedback on in-development games. In the first 30-45 minutes of the session, the panel will introduce the session, so make sure you to be there at the start if you are interested.

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Some of our supporters will have copies of games available for purchase after sessions. Please note that not all games will be for sale.

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The Medley Tournament features a different game in each round, for a total of 5 or 6 rounds. The games will be drawn from those played during the daytime sessions. We aim to include games with simple rules so that everyone, can join in. Prizes and more details will be posted on this page closer to the event.

Fantastic! First, speak to the clubs, associations, or federations present to learn how to meet other players or join courses. Second, let us know. Your feedback helps us plan future events, and we’d love to hear from you.