Editing Stratego (section)

=== Rules of movement ===

All movable pieces, with the exception of the ''Scout'', may move only one step to any adjacent space vertically or horizontally (but not diagonally).<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Movement:2}} A piece may not move onto a space occupied by a like-color piece.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Movement:4;5}}  ''Bomb'' and ''Flag'' pieces are not moveable.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Movement:7}} The ''Scout'' may move any number of spaces in a straight line (such as the [[Rook (chess)|rook]] in chess).<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Movement:8}} In the older versions of ''Stratego'' the ''Scout'' could not move and strike in the same turn;<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Movement:8}}<ref name=StrategoClassic-2002/> in newer versions this was allowed.<ref name=Stratego-1996/> Even before that, sanctioned play usually amended the original ''Scout'' movement to allow moving and striking in the same turn because it facilitates gameplay.

No piece can move back and forth between the same two spaces for three consecutive turns (two square rule).<ref name=Stratego-1961>{{cite web |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/oyyNQ3y/ |title=Rules of Stratego |publisher=Milton Bradley |date=1961}}</ref>{{rp|Movement:10}} Nor can a piece endlessly chase an opposing piece it has no hope of attacking (more square rule).

When a player wants to attack, they "strike" by touching an opposing piece with their piece or by moving it onto the square the opposing piece occupies. Both players then reveal their piece's rank; the weaker piece (see exceptions below) is removed from the board.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Attack:5}} If the engaging pieces are of equal rank, both are removed.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Attack:7}} A piece may not move onto a square already occupied unless it attacks. The original rules also contained a provision that following a strike, the winning piece immediately occupies the space vacated by the losing piece.{{efn |However, due to a misprint, this meant that when the winning piece is the struck piece, it moves out of position to take the space previously occupied by the striker.<ref name=Stratego-1961/> The rules were amended later to make it clear that when the winning piece is the struck (defending) piece, it remains in place.<ref name=Stratego-1996/>}}<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Attack:6}}

Two pieces have special attack powers. One special piece is the ''Bomb'' which only ''Miners'' can defuse. It immediately eliminates any other piece striking it without being destroyed itself.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Attack:10}} Each player also has one ''Spy'', which succeeds only if it attacks the ''Marshal'' or the ''Flag''. If the ''Spy'' attacks any other piece, or is attacked by any piece (including the ''Marshal''), the ''Spy'' is defeated.<ref name=Stratego-1961/>{{rp|Attack:9}}