Battleship is a simple game, but quite difficult to win because you can't see your opponent's board. While you'll still have to shoot randomly from time to time, especially early in the game, there are a few strategies for attacking your opponent's ships that can increase your chances of winning. You can also increase your chances of victory by placing your ship in an area that your opponent doesn't attack.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Maximizing Shot
Step 1. Shoot in the middle of the board
Statistically, you can hit your opponent's ship if you shoot into the middle of the board. So, start from there.
The four-by-four box in the center of the board usually contains a carrier or battleship
Step 2. Use parity to increase the odds
Think of the board as a checkerboard with half black squares and half white. Each ship fills at least two squares, meaning every ship must touch a black square. Therefore, if you randomly shoot only on even or odd squares, you can reduce the number of turns it takes to take down all of your opponent's ships.
- Once you've successfully hit your opponent's ship, it's a good idea to stop shooting randomly and start aiming at the related ship.
- To be able to monitor black and white squares, look at your board and imagine the squares touching the diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right are black. Then, imagine the squares touching the diagonal line starting from the top right corner to the bottom left are white. You can start from there to make sure the square you're aiming for is the right color.
Step 3. Move if two of your shots on the same segment miss
If two of your shots miss in one segment, switch to another. The chances of your shot missing a bit are much less than the chances of your shot missing a lot.
Method 2 of 3: Aiming at the Shooting Ship
Step 1. Reduce the target area after your shot hits the enemy ship
You need to reduce the target area surrounding the shot box that hits your opponent. Since the ships in Battleship are 2-5 squares in size, it may take several turns to sink the ship being shot.
Step 2. Shoot around the area where your shot hits the opponent's ship
Start by shooting up, down, or either side of the shot box that hits your opponent. If one of your attacks misses, try the area on the opposite side. Keep shooting until you sink your opponent's ship. The player whose ship is sunk must immediately announce it to the opponent.
Step 3. Repeat this method to shoot other enemy ships
You need to randomly shoot again (or to the center of the board) to find another ship. After that, repeat the process of shooting around the shot box that hit the opponent's ship to sink it. In this way, the spins needed to sink all the opponent's ships will be reduced and also increase your chances of winning the game.
Method 3 of 3: Adjusting the Position of the Ship so that it is Hard for Opponents to Shoot
Step 1. Space your ships so they don't touch each other
If your warships touch each other, your opponent has a chance to sink the ships in succession. You need to reduce your opponent's chances of finding another ship after hitting one of yours. Therefore, space your warships so they don't touch each other. Leave a distance between your ships at least 1-2 squares so that it is not easy for your opponent to find them.
Step 2. Try placing your boats so they touch each other, but don't overlap
Although most players feel that their warships should not be in a row, but there are players who feel this strategy is effective for outwit opponents. By placing two ships touching but not stacking each other, you will confuse your opponent about the ship he has sunk.
Don't forget, while it has its benefits, placing ships so that they touch each other is very risky as it helps your opponent find one or more of your other ships
Step 3. Watch your opponent's moves
If you often play with the same opponent, you can put your ship in a place that your opponent rarely attacks. Keep in mind the squares that your opponent attacks most often and avoid those zones.
For example, do opponents tend to attack from the right side of the board, the center, or to the bottom left corner? Know the areas that your opponent attacks most often and don't put ships in those zones
Tips
- Vary your attack strategy by changing the box each time. For example, start from A-3, then B-4, C-5, and so on.
- Once you've found your opponent's smallest ship, develop a checkerboard pattern to shoot at locations where only the larger ships can fit. Don't shoot a place that can only be filled with two-box ships if your opponent doesn't have one.
- In Battleship, players tend to aim towards the center. Better not to put your ship there.
