Abstract Strategy Games: History, Maths and Game Design (online)
At a Glance
- Taught live online
- Thursdays 18:00 - 20:00
- 10 weeks | October - December
- Starts 10 October 2024
- Fees from £144
- Tutor: Dr Francesco Salerno
Enrol-by Date
- 30 September 2024
This is the online version of this class. A classroom version is also available.
Board games are as much a part of human civilization as the pyramids at Giza, the Benin Bronzes of West Africa and the Mona Lisa in Paris. They are also astonishingly ancient.
In this course we are going to look at abstract strategy games. Within the community of board gamers, the term 'abstract strategy games' refers to two-player games with no inherent element of luck, with perfect information and no theme. These are also sometimes called 'combinatorial games'.
While Chess and Go are the most well known and global examples of abstract strategy games, a large number of lesser-known games, both ancient and contemporary, also share high replayability, complexity, and social, cultural and scientific relevance.
On this course you are invited to join your tutor on an exploration of four key areas related to games:
- The evolution across history and diverse cultures of the rules of both traditional games (such as Chess, Go, Draughts and Mancala) and modern board games (such as Othello, Hive, Hex, Quoridor).
- An introduction to the mathematical aspects of some abstract games and their connections to various branches of science, including the ubiquitous domain of artificial intelligence.
- Fundamental strategic and tactical principles of some of these games, enabling students to enhance their skills and enjoy such games (practising with each other during the second part of each class).
- What makes a game popular, fun and replayable in terms of game mechanics and goals, exploring their deliberate application in the modern board game industry (principles of game design).
In the second part of each class you will be using your computer to play online with the other participants the games discussed on the course.
You do not need any previous experience or background in games, maths or history to enrol in this course.
Class Recordings
These classes are not recorded
Attendance Certificate
Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate
Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment
Course Information
Course Programme
Course Programme (may be subject to change)
- What is a ‘Game’ and what are the characteristics of Abstract Strategy Games?
- N in a Row games and First Player Advantage.
- Connection games and board shapes.
- Understanding the traits of a 'good' game through complexity and other features.
- History and development of chess and chess-like games.
- Exploring ancient and contemporary Race games.
- Game changer: the role of Artificial Intelligence in Board Games.
- Territorial games: the long history of Go and its heritage.
- Two more classics and numerous variants: Draughts and Mancala.
- Miscellanea of contemporary games: innovations in game design.
Your Tutor
Dr Francesco Salerno has played chess since a very young age and after obtaining his PhD in Chemistry at the Imperial College London he decided to focus on the popularisation of board games as educational tools.
He runs chess and mind sports clubs in elementary schools in London and runs Hive tournaments all over the world. He is also part of Abstrakta, an international organisation that promotes abstract strategy games through events, tournaments and seminars and has co-organised Mochalunt, the first world championship of abstract games for national teams.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Early Bird: £241 Full price: £268 |
Early Bird: £144 Full price: £160 |
Early Bird: £190 Full price: £211 |
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| All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Early Bird rates are available until the end of 30 September only. Part-payments are not possible. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
- Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
- Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School
Associate Rate
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- Co-operative College members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
- Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
- Friends of the Royal College of Music
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Natural History Museum staff
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- The American Institute for Foreign Study
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Friends and Family Scheme
This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.
Term Dates 2024-25
| Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Week starting 7 October to week ending 14 December 2024* | n/a | n/a | ||
| *This is a 1-term course | |||||
Enrolment Process
Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:
- Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
- If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.
When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent straight away following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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Any Questions?
Questions regarding the content and teaching of this course should be sent to the Course Tutor, Dr Francesco Salerno, frasco.sal@gmail.com
If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk