Games: Puzzling magazine is resurrected

Some people just play chess, writes William Hartston, while others just play bridge. Some choose poker or backgammon. And there are those who play everything: chess, bridge, poker, backgammon, Shogi, Monopoly, Dungeons & Dragons, and then go home and beat hell out of their kids (if they are old enough to have kids) at snakes and ladders. It is for this latter group - the dedicated games players - that the new magazine Games & Puzzles caters.

To be accurate, it is the resurrection of an old magazine. The original Games & Puzzles lived through 10 years of fluctuating fortunes before its readership finally withered and died in 1981, from an overdose of every variety of board game.

The first issue of the new Games & Puzzles follows a predictable format. There is a 'Theseus and the Minotaur' maze puzzle, complete with a short story in which mythological characters, somewhat incongruously, explain the rules. There is an article on card games including two called 'The Bum Game' and 'Strippo - The Nude Olympics'. ('The first to get rid of all their clothes is designated Stripper and wins a gold medal.')

There are pieces on chess, bridge, draughts, playing war games by mail, old games, recent games, and games never seen before. There are crosswords, reviews (generally varying from complimentary to euphoric), puzzles, competitions, Scrabble, Boggle, indeed everything the compulsive games player could want.

Will it live as long as its predecessor? Dozens of new games are produced each year, but few of them last. Games players are a fickle bunch. Last month's obsession becomes this week's cupboard liner. Even for the people who play everything, there may be too much in an endless diet of games, games and more games. But I look forward to the second issue, if only to find out what is the number in the series after 149, 162, 536, 496, 481.

Games & Puzzles costs pounds 1.95 a month or pounds 19.95 a year, and is available from newsagents or direct from 8 Arbor Court, London N16 0QU.