How to Play the Board Game Risk: Strategy & Rules Guide

Risk is one of the most iconic strategy board games in the world. Combining tactical thinking, negotiation, and luck, it challenges players to conquer territories, form alliances, and outmaneuver their opponents in a quest for world domination. Whether you’re new to the game or want to sharpen your strategy, this guide breaks down the essential rules and best practices to help you succeed.

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Objective of the Game

The goal of Risk is to eliminate your opponents and control every territory on the board. In some versions or variations, players may be assigned secret objectives (like conquering specific continents or defeating a specific player), but the classic win condition is total domination.

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Game Setup

1. Choose a color and take the corresponding army pieces.
2. Shuffle and deal all the territory cards until each player has an equal number.
3. Players place one army on each territory they are dealt.
4. Once all territories are claimed, players take turns placing their remaining armies.

Each player also receives a Risk card after winning a battle on their turn, which can later be turned in for bonus reinforcements.

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Turn Overview

Each player's turn follows three phases:

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1. Reinforcement Phase

• At the start of your turn, calculate how many armies you get:
  • Divide your total number of territories by 3 (minimum of 3 reinforcements).
  • Bonus armies are given for controlling entire continents.
  • You can also turn in sets of Risk cards for additional troops.

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2. Attack Phase

• Choose a neighboring territory to attack using dice.
• You can attack as many times as you want during your turn.
• Use 1 to 3 dice when attacking (depending on how many armies you commit).
• The defender rolls 1 or 2 dice.
• Highest dice are compared in order, and the loser removes that many armies.

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3. Fortify Phase

• Move armies between adjacent, connected territories.
• You may only move armies once per turn, from one territory to another.

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Winning Battles: Dice Combat

Combat in Risk relies on dice rolls:

• The attacker can roll up to 3 dice if they have at least 4 armies in the attacking territory.
• The defender can roll up to 2 dice if they have at least 2 armies.
• Dice are compared highest to highest, then second-highest to second-highest.
• In case of a tie, the defender wins.

Because of this mechanic, defenders have a slight edge in individual battles, especially when matched in numbers.

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Risk Cards and Reinforcements

Each time you conquer at least one territory on your turn, you draw a Risk card. When you collect three cards of a matching set (three of the same symbol, or one of each), you can turn them in for bonus armies.

• The number of reinforcements from card sets increases as the game progresses.
• Turning in cards strategically can help you launch devastating attacks or solidify your defenses.

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Strategy Tips for Beginners

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Focus on Continents Early

Some continents provide better reinforcement bonuses than others. For example, Australia offers a bonus with only one entrance to defend, making it an excellent starting point for new players.

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Don’t Overextend

It’s tempting to conquer as much as you can, but spreading too thin makes you vulnerable. Maintain strong defenses and reinforce key territories before launching large attacks.

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Make Temporary Alliances

While Risk is ultimately a solo game, diplomacy can buy you time or redirect your enemies' focus. Just be ready for alliances to shift quickly.

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Break Opponent Bonuses

Prevent other players from earning continent bonuses by holding or threatening key territories. This can disrupt their momentum and slow down their reinforcement count.

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Know When to Strike

Timing is everything in Risk. A well-planned strike—especially when a player has just cashed in a large card set—can turn the tide of the game.

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Common House Rules and Variants

Risk has inspired numerous homegrown rules and alternate versions. Some popular ones include:

• No alliances allowed – Encourages purely strategic play without diplomacy.
• Capital Risk – Players designate a capital; capturing all capitals wins the game.
• Secret missions – Each player gets a hidden objective instead of aiming for total domination.

These tweaks can add variety and reduce game length.

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Final Thoughts

Risk is a classic game of strategy and chance that continues to captivate players decades after its release. Whether you’re building empires, sabotaging opponents, or holding the last stronghold, every game tells a different story.

Learn the rules, understand the odds, and play smart—and you might just become the next world conqueror.