3 Stones has a decent amount of strategy, but I found that players tend to focus more on offense than defense until late in the game. Luck does play a large role, especially early on. It's frustrating when you keep drawing your opponents color again and again! One thing I did notice that I don't like. The clear stones are slightly smaller than the colored stones, so when reaching into the bag I can usually tell if I'm holding a clear stone. Honesty is then important in crucial moments. Overall though, it's one of my favorite 2 player games at the moment.

'3 Stones' is a game I purchased in a small gaming shop 300 miles from home and became an instant hit with my friends when I showed it to them. Unfortunately for them, this game turned out to be a very difficult one to find when they tried to purchase their own boards!

This is a great game for 2 people to sit down and play, with very simple game mechanics but a great deal of depth for players who want to get more from the experience. Personally I prefer the 'expert' ruleset where each player is given half of each type of stone: when the luck of the bag is removed from the game, it becomes a true game of strategy. Do you play your pieces now and try to establish honey pots for points later in the game, or do you try and bury your opponent's pieces early and save all of your own for end-game when you have more chances of gaining points on nearly every placement? And just when IS the best time to play those clear stones? :)

I would definitely recommend this game for anyone who enjoys similar games in the genre.