Is SkipBo All in the Cards?
My wife and I just returned from a vacation on which we drove my parents to Minnesota and North Dakota to visit friends and relatives for what could easily be the last time we’ll see some or all of them. All, including my parents, are in their 80s or 90s – except Great Aunt Marie who is 100 years old. Though we didn’t see or do anything that most people would consider exciting, it was one of the funnest vacations I can recall.
Now, just because I was on vacation, that doesn’t mean I left gaming at home. We played San Juan, Blokus, and several hands of SkipBo, which seems to be the game my parents consider their funnest right now.
I lost track, but I think the four of us played 8 to 10 hands of SkipBo in the past five days.
I didn’t win even once.
How did I do it? I’m sorry I misled you with the title above, but I haven’t a clue why I lost every round, usually with many, many cards left in the stack I needed to get rid of to win.
SkipBo has just a little more strategy than Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. I tried using what tricks are available, and I tried not using them. It didn’t seem to make any difference either way. I guess the cards just weren’t dealt in my favor, but it sure feels like the others knew something I didn’t.
SkipBo is far from my favorite game; I prefer games with a lot more strategy. But now I want to keep playing just to prove I can win; that is, that the cards can be dealt in my favor.
I know I’m not really missing anything in the tactics or strategy here, but if you’ve got something you think might help, let me know.