ROSA GAMES / Game guides
Battleship: switching from search to pursuit
Random shots can waste turns. It helps to separate two tasks: finding an unknown ship and establishing the direction of one you have already hit.
Search systematically
Spread shots through the untested area instead of clustering them around an arbitrary point. Consider the sizes of ships still afloat and the empty regions already established. A search pattern that is too sparse may overlook a small ship.
Change tasks after a hit
One hit does not reveal a ship’s direction. Test neighbouring squares, then continue along the line you establish. If you reach its end, return to the other side. Recorded results are the basis of your reasoning; do not repeat a shot.
Separate facts from assumptions
A sunk ship and a single hit provide different information. Plan from actual markers and the placement rules. Try different computer difficulty levels for practice. In a two-player match, discuss the decisions afterwards rather than revealing your fleet during the battle.