Are your kids spending too much time on video games? Introduce them to the exciting world of Euro-games! Euro-games are board games designed to encourage strategic thinking through rules that are simple and intuitive. Chess, for example, requires a high learning curve to play well. A Euro-game abstract, called Yinsh, by contrast, is still deep, yet the rules can be learned in 5 minutes. The majority of traditional American board games, like Monopoly, depend on luck of the dice, aren't particularly deep in strategy, and suffer from a runaway leader problem where those lagging behind lose interest long before the game ends. A Euro-game focuses on the following: - simple rules that can be easily taught and grasped, usually within a few minutes or through a quick example game - winning depends less on luck and more on effective strategy or tactics - strategy and tactics needed to win are intuitive and do not require a high learning curve - no runaway leader problem such that games tend to be very close until the very end - a playing time that doesn't run longer than the fun.

This auction item will consist of the following 5 games designed to introduce you to the world of Euro-games, with a retail value of $175: Codenames - the hottest party game right now; Castles of Burgundy - one of the most popular and highly rated games; 7 Wonders - one of the most popular and highly rated games; San Juan - a game that is perfection with two-players; Ingenious - an abstract game designed by one of the best known game designers, Reiner Knizia.