Rank & Flag

Stratego Game Online – Play Free vs Computer

Play the classic hidden-rank strategy board game free in your browser against the computer. No download, no sign-up.

How to Play Stratego in 30 Seconds

Each player commands an army of 40 pieces whose ranks are hidden from the other side. Your goal is to find and capture the enemy Flag.

  • Set up. Arrange your 40 pieces on your four back rows. The computer cannot see your ranks, and you cannot see its.
  • Move. On your turn, move one piece one square up, down, left or right. Nothing can enter the two lakes in the middle, and Scouts may run any distance in a straight line.
  • Attack. Move onto an enemy piece to attack it. Both ranks are revealed and the higher rank wins; equal ranks both leave the board.
  • Special pieces. The Spy defeats the Marshal if the Spy strikes first, only a Miner can defuse a Bomb, and Bombs and the Flag never move.
  • Win. Capture the Flag, or leave your opponent with no piece that can move. After 200 moves in a row without an attack, the game is a draw.
  • No endless shuffling. A piece may not move back and forth between the same two squares more than three times in a row, and you cannot chase one piece around in circles forever.

That is enough to start your first game. For setup, battles and special cases in full, read the complete Stratego rules.

Stratego Pieces and Ranks

Every army has the same 40 pieces. Higher numbers beat lower ones, with three exceptions: the Spy, the Miner and the Bomb.

Stratego pieces with rank, count and special ability
PieceRankCountSpecial ability
Marshal101Highest rank. Beats every moving piece, but loses to the Spy when the Spy attacks first.
General91Second highest. Only the Marshal beats it in a normal attack.
Colonel82Strong attacker that beats everything from 7 down.
Major73Mid-high rank that beats 6 and below.
Captain64Solid middle piece that beats 5 and below.
Lieutenant54Beats Sergeants, Miners, Scouts and the Spy.
Sergeant44Low rank that beats Miners, Scouts and the Spy.
Miner35The only piece that can defuse a Bomb. It wins any attack on a Bomb and takes its square.
Scout28Moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, and can attack at the end of that move. It cannot jump over pieces or lakes.
Spy11Lowest rank, but defeats the Marshal when the Spy attacks. Loses to everything else, and loses if the Marshal attacks it.
Bomb–6Cannot move. Any piece that attacks it is removed, except a Miner, which defuses it.
Flag–1Cannot move. Capture the enemy Flag to win the game.
Total40pieces per player

Tips for using each one are on the Stratego pieces page, and ready-made formations are on best Stratego setups, and how to plan a whole game is in the Stratego strategy guide.

Stratego Game FAQ

Is this Stratego game free?

Yes. Rank & Flag is completely free. There is no download, no account and no payment: the full game and all three difficulty levels are playable right here in your browser.

Do I need to download or sign up?

No. The game runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Your game in progress, settings and saved setups are kept in your own browser, so you can close the tab and carry on later on the same device.

Can I play Stratego online with friends?

Not yet. Right now you play against the computer only. Playing online with friends may come later; for now the site has no accounts and no multiplayer.

How does the computer opponent work?

The computer runs in your browser and sees only what a human opponent could see: where your pieces stand, which ones have moved, and any rank revealed in a battle. Easy plays loosely with some randomness, Medium remembers revealed pieces and avoids bad trades, and Hard estimates the hidden ranks from what it has seen and looks several moves ahead.

What are the rules for moving and capturing?

Each turn you move one piece one square up, down, left or right; Scouts can move any distance in a straight line. Moving onto an enemy piece is an attack: the higher rank wins, equal ranks are both removed, the Spy beats the Marshal only when it attacks first, and only a Miner can defuse a Bomb. See the full rules for every detail.

Is this the official Stratego game?

No. Rank & Flag is an unofficial, fan-made game with its own artwork and its own rules text. Stratego is a trademark of its respective owner, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the trademark owner.