Mille Bornes

Mille Bornes, the French auto race card game, created in 1954 is a classic, originally sold by Parker Brothers, now under license from Hasbro. The rules are very simple. Your goal is to be the first player to finish a 1,000 mile auto race. All the while other players are attempting to stop you with hazards like accidents, flat tires, speed limits, and more. There's very little strategy involved, which makes it a perfect game to play while watching TV, drinking, or just chatting with friends. The game takes very little concentration and is a lot of fun!

It's been a favorite of mine for years, though I hadn't played it in quite a while, until two night ago when I taught Kate. She took an instant shine to it, and now we've played at least one round every night since. It's the kind of game that works just as well for two people as it does for a group of people. The dynamic is different, but fun in both cases.

If you've never played, pick up a copy. It's inexpensive, easy to learn and a good way to keep yourself occupied. It's great for kids, too. It would make an excellent family game.

I'm a big fan of strategy games, but sometimes simpler is better. An easy game with simple rules involving a lot of luck and very little thought is sometimes just what you need to unwind. That and a Southside, or an Old Fashioned. Perfection.