"UNO" uses cards with different colors and numbers and players must stick to the same color or number. The winner is the first person who ends up without any cards in hand.

Though board games (apart from chess and checkers) are relatively new in China, there almost 80 different categories of games listed on the board game Website (www.boardgamegeek.com).

There are 3,000-plus board games worldwide, experts say. They include abstract strategy, adventure, card games, economics, fighting, numbers, war games, party game, memory tests, action and word games.

Many of are spinoffs of popular novels, online games or films, such as "Harry Potter" and "WarCraft."

Many games represent regional culture and players, for example, need to know something about knights, dwarfs, quests and necromancers before playing some European adventure or role playing games.

If you are a student of World War II, you have many choices, such as the war game "AA" (Axis & Allies).

Unlike beginners and casual players, experienced players like games involving strategic thinking and communications skills.

Professionals have translated some games' rules into Chinese, expanding the popularity of Western games.

One expert interviewed calls himself Soul, who works in the finance department of a telecommunications equipment firm. He has translated the rules of more than 30 games. Among them, two games, "Modern Art" and "Race for the Galaxy," have a Chinese version.

"I like the strategy and management games as they need thinking and communications or trading with other players. As with my job, I like games related to numbers," says Soul.

Soul's other favorites are "Puerto Rico" and "Power Grid." In the grid game, players operate a power company and consider the cost of power delivery among cities and the cost and efficiency of wind, solar, nuclear and coal-fired plants.

"It's like an intelligent competition and everyone wants to win. It's exciting," says Soul.

Landice's favorite is "A Game of Throns," a European strategy game derived from the novel the Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R Martin."

Other highly recommended titles by experienced players include "Diplomacy," which has dozens of years' history and is played by diplomats around the world.

"Experienced players often come here on weekdays, playing strategy games or testing new titles. Regular players then come on days off," says game bar operator Zhanggui.

Of course, Soul, Landice and Zhanggui all like playing "Sanguo Sha."

An interesting aspect of board games are their tools, which are often wildly imaginative. There are puzzles, toy soldiers and weapons, darts, magnetic snakes among other things.

Soul has collected more than 30 board games while Landice has more than 10.

Board games are pricey in China as most are imported. They often cost more than 200 yuan (US$30); high-end games can cost 700 yuan or more.

The modern "Monopoly" with credit cards costs 300 yuan.

Board game bars have been springing up since last year. They offer hundreds of board games and usually water. The cost is usually 10 yuan an hour or 30 yuan per game.

"Players can try five or more games in an afternoon," says Zhanggui of FF Bar where experienced players and staff are tutors. It opened last August; capacity is around 60 players.

"If you want to play on weekends, you had better book seats before Wednesday," he says.

(Shanghai Daily February 18, 2009)