Game guides: rules, strategy and tips
60 free guides to the games on DailyGameClub, written by the DailyGameClub team. Each one explains the rules exactly as the site plays them, then the strategy that wins more often, with worked examples, common mistakes and answers to the questions players ask.
Word games
9 guidesCrosswords, the guess-the-word games, ladders, wheels and word searches: how to start, where the letters hide and how to finish faster.
- How to Solve Crosswords: Tips That WorkCrossword solving tips for beginners and improvers: where to start, how to read a clue, fill-in-the-blank and question-mark clues, crossings and finishing.6 min read
- Mini Crossword Tips: Solve 5 × 5 Grids FastHow to solve a 5 × 5 mini crossword quickly: the order to read clues, fully checked grids, common short answers, easy and hard days, and timing.5 min read
- Daily Word Strategy: Openers and LogicStrategy for five-letter word games: strong starting words, letter frequency, reading the marks, double letters, and solving in three or four guesses.6 min read
- Quick Word and Big Word: 4 and 6 LettersStrategy for four- and six-letter guessing games: vowels decide short words, endings decide long ones, openers for each length and the mistakes to avoid.5 min read
- Word Ladder Guide: Solve in Par Every TimeHow to solve word ladders: work from both ends, change vowels first, use bridge words, count the letters that must change and avoid dead ends.5 min read
- Word Wheel Guide: Find More Words FasterHow to score well in a seven-letter word wheel: the centre letter rule, hunting the full-wheel word, prefixes and suffixes, systematic pairs, and scoring.5 min read
- Four Groups Guide: Spot the Red HerringsHow to solve a sixteen-word grouping puzzle: find the group with no alternatives, spot red herrings, use one away, save the easy group and manage mistakes.5 min read
- Word Search Tips: Find Every Word QuicklyHow to finish a word search faster: scan for rare letters, work the list by length, read backwards and diagonally, sweep rows and columns, finish cleanly.4 min read
- Letter Drop Strategy: Guess Letters in OrderHow to win a guess-the-letter word game with few misses: letter frequency order, reading the revealed pattern, vowels first, endings and the lamp budget.5 min read
Number games
5 guidesSudoku from the first pencil mark to X-wings, plus the arithmetic and sliding puzzles.
- How to Solve Sudoku: A Beginner’s GuideSolve sudoku step by step: the three rules, scanning, hidden and naked singles, pencil marks, pairs and a method that finishes easy and medium days.6 min read
- Advanced Sudoku: X-Wing, Swordfish, ChainsAdvanced sudoku techniques with examples: X-wing, swordfish, skyscraper, XY-wing, unique rectangles and colouring, and when to use each on a hard puzzle.6 min read
- Number Target Guide: Hit the Total ExactlyHow to solve arithmetic target puzzles: work back from the target, use the big number as a multiplier, build to a multiple and leave a small remainder.5 min read
- Equation Guess Strategy: Crack It in FourHow to solve the eight-character equation guessing game: strong openers, where the equals sign goes, reading marks, order of operations and typical shapes.5 min read
- Slide Puzzle Guide: Solve the 15 PuzzleA method for sliding tile puzzles that always works: the top row, then the left column, then the rest; the trick for the last two tiles, and fewer moves.5 min read
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Logic games
6 guidesPicture logic, crown placement, two-symbol grids, light switches and code breaking, each solved by reasoning rather than guessing.
- How to Solve Picture Cross (Nonograms)A full method for picture logic puzzles: overlap, edge clues, zeros, marking empties, splitting clues and reasoning that finishes grids without guessing.5 min read
- Crowns Puzzle Guide: One Crown Per RegionHow to solve one-per-row, column and region placement puzzles: single-square regions, confinement, the no-touching rule, counting arguments and marking.4 min read
- Sun & Moon Puzzle Guide: Balanced RowsHow to solve two-symbol grid puzzles: the no-three rule, the gap rule, balance counting, equals and cross clues, and the lookahead that resolves hard days.4 min read
- Light Switch Guide: Chase the Lights to ZeroHow to solve light-flipping grid puzzles: why order and repeats do not matter, the chase-the-lights method, fixing the last row and getting close to par.4 min read
- Code Breaker Strategy: Crack Four SymbolsHow to crack a four-symbol code from exact and near counts: strong openers, reading the counts, eliminating with each guess, repeats on hard days and more.5 min read
- Pairs Memory Game Tips: Fewer FlipsHow to win a card-matching memory game in fewer flips: a flipping order, remembering by position and story, the never-waste-a-flip rule, and grid sizes.4 min read
Card games
12 guidesSix solitaires and the table games: rules, bidding, passing and the habits that win more deals.
- Klondike Solitaire Strategy: Win More DealsHow to win more Klondike deals: uncover face-down cards first, when to empty a column, holding cards back from the foundations and draw-three tactics.5 min read
- Spider Solitaire Strategy: One to Four SuitsSpider solitaire strategy for one, two and four suits: build in suit, protect empty columns, uncover cards before you deal and manage the stock.5 min read
- Free Cell Solitaire Strategy: Plan the DealHow to win free cell solitaire: dig out aces and twos, keep cells empty, value empty columns, count how many cards you can move, and plan the whole deal.4 min read
- Pyramid Solitaire Guide: Clear All 28 CardsHow to clear a pyramid: the pairs that make 13, which card to take when two match, keeping the bottom rows even, using the stock passes wisely, and kings.4 min read
- Golf Solitaire Guide: Leave Fewer CardsHow to play Golf solitaire well: look for long chains before playing, choose which column to play from, when to turn the stock and the rules by difficulty.4 min read
- TriPeaks Guide: Long Runs, More PointsHow to score high in TriPeaks: how runs and bonuses are scored, choosing the run that uncovers most, peaks and stock timing, and the rules by difficulty.4 min read
- Call Break Rules and Bidding StrategyCall Break (Lakdi) explained: the strict must-beat rules, spades as trumps, counting sure tricks and calling, the 0.1 bonus, five-round scoring, tactics.6 min read
- Hearts Rules and Strategy: Dodge the QueenHow to play Hearts: passing, the two of clubs lead, when hearts may be led, the queen of spades, shooting the moon, scoring to 100 and passing strategy.5 min read
- Spades Rules and Strategy: Bids and BagsSpades explained for new players: partnership bidding, nil and blind nil, following suit, when spades can be led, bags and the 100-point penalty, tactics.5 min read
- Gin Rummy Rules and Strategy for TwoGin Rummy explained: melds, deadwood, drawing and discarding, knocking at 10 or less, going gin, undercuts, the stock rule, scoring to 100 and strategy.5 min read
- Crazy Eights Rules and StrategyHow to play Crazy Eights: matching suit or rank, eights as wild cards, drawing, scoring hands to 100 with two to four players and when to save an eight.5 min read
- Go Fish Rules and Simple StrategyHow to play Go Fish for two to four players: dealing, asking for a rank, fishing, books of four, how the game ends, and a few habits that win more books.4 min read
Board games
17 guidesChess openings, checkers, reversi corners, Ludo, Backgammon and the family games with friends.
- Chess Openings for BeginnersThe opening principles every chess beginner needs, four openings to learn first for White and Black, traps to avoid and how to practise against a robot.5 min read
- How to Play Chess: Rules for BeginnersChess rules explained simply: how each piece moves, check and checkmate, castling, en passant, promotion, every way a game is drawn and how to read moves.5 min read
- Checkers Strategy: Win With Forced JumpsCheckers (draughts) strategy under American rules: using compulsory captures, holding the back row, centre control, trading when ahead, kings and endgames.5 min read
- Reversi Strategy: Corners and MobilityHow to win at reversi: why corners cannot be flipped, the squares to avoid beside them, mobility over disc count, parity in the endgame and frontier discs.5 min read
- Four in a Row Strategy: Threats and ZugzwangHow to win the 7 × 6 disc-drop game: the centre column, two threats at once, odd and even rows, never playing under a threat and beating the robot.4 min read
- Ludo Rules and Strategy for 2 to 4 PlayersLudo explained: getting out with a six, moving and capturing, safe squares, the home column and exact rolls, bonus rolls, house rules and choosing a token.5 min read
- Snakes and Ladders: Rules and HistoryThe rules of Snakes and Ladders, the exact-roll finish, bonus sixes and captures, how the game came from India as a lesson in virtue and vice, and odds.5 min read
- Backgammon Rules and Basic StrategyBackgammon explained from setup to bearing off: moving with two dice, doubles, blots and hitting, the bar, blocked points, the pip count and strategy.5 min read
- Mancala (Kalah) Rules and StrategyHow to play Mancala in its Kalah form: sowing counter-clockwise, free turns, captures from an empty pit, how the game ends and the counting habits to win.5 min read
- Nine Men’s Morris: Rules and StrategyHow to play the mill game: the placing, moving and flying phases, taking pieces from mills, the running mill, junction points, mobility and how it ends.5 min read
- Dominoes Rules: The Draw Game to 100How to play Draw dominoes with a double-six set: dealing, the first double, matching ends, the boneyard, blocked hands, scoring pips and strategy for 2-4.5 min read
- Tic Tac Toe Strategy: Never Lose on 3 × 3How to never lose at Tic Tac Toe: the centre, the corner reply, forks and how to block them, every opening answered, and the 5 × 5 four-in-a-row grid.4 min read
- Dots and Boxes Strategy: Chains and ControlHow to win Dots and Boxes: the safe-move phase, counting chains, the double-cross that keeps control, the long chain rule, grid sizes and the Hard robot.5 min read
- Sea Battle Strategy: Place and Hunt SmartlyHow to win the ship-hiding grid game: fleet placement that resists hunting, chequerboard search, hunt and target mode, late-game odds and the robot levels.4 min read
- Five Dice Guide: Score Sheet StrategyHow to play the five-dice score-sheet game well: what each box scores, the 63-point upper bonus, which dice to keep, when to take a zero and the bonuses.5 min read
- Bingo Guide: 75-Ball Cards, Lines and HousesHow 75-ball bingo works: the B-I-N-G-O columns and their number ranges, the free centre, lines and full house, calling in time, pace and online play.4 min read
- Word Duel Guide: Win the Five-Letter RaceHow to win a two-player five-letter word race: openers that find letters fast, reading the other player’s colour patterns, when to gamble, and ties.4 min read
Arcade and sports
3 guidesBowling scoring, darts checkouts and pinball table craft, explained properly.
- Bowling Scoring Explained, Frame by FrameHow ten-pin bowling is scored: open frames, spares and the next ball, strikes and the next two balls, the three-ball tenth frame, a worked card and 300.5 min read
- Darts 301 Checkouts: Table and TipsHow to play and finish 301 darts: the board, the double-out rule and busts, the checkout table from 170 down, which doubles to leave and Around the Clock.6 min read
- Pinball Tips: Flipper Control and ScoringHow to score more at pinball: catching and cradling the ball, late and early flips to aim, drop targets and multipliers, the ramp and the daily mission.5 min read
Quiz study guides
5 guidesCapitals by continent, flags that look alike, the periodic table and Roman numerals: the facts behind the daily quizzes, organised to remember.
- World Capitals by Continent: A Study GuideWorld capitals by continent with the ones that catch people out: Canberra not Sydney, Ottawa, Brasília, Ankara, Bern, Abuja and ways to remember them.5 min read
- Flags That Look Alike: Telling Them ApartThe most confusable flags side by side: Chad and Romania, Indonesia and Monaco, Ireland and Côte d’Ivoire, Norway and Iceland, and the detail that decides.6 min read
- Periodic Table Memory Tips for the QuizHow to remember the periodic table: the first 20 elements with a mnemonic, symbols that do not match the name, groups and periods, and the noble gases.5 min read
- Roman Numerals Guide: Read Any YearHow Roman numerals work: the seven symbols, adding and subtracting, why IV but not IIII, reading years like MCMXCIV, clock faces and conversion practice.4 min read
- Mental Math Tricks for the Daily QuizzesMental arithmetic tricks that work under time pressure: rounding and adjusting, doubling and halving, multiplying by 5, 9, 11 and 25, squares, percentages.5 min read
Playing daily
3 guidesWhy a daily puzzle habit sticks, how streaks and leaderboards work, and what to play with friends.
- Best Free Daily Puzzles to Play OnlineA guide to free daily puzzles you can play in a browser: word, number and logic games, crosswords, solitaire deals and quizzes, and how to make a routine.5 min read
- How to Keep a Daily Puzzle Streak GoingHow streaks work and how to keep one: what counts, midnight and time zones, the archive, free accounts without email, first attempts and lasting habits.5 min read
- Games to Play With Friends Online, FreeFree browser games to play with friends: invite by link or code, quick match, pass-and-play on one phone, games for two, four or eight, and fair play.5 min read
About these guides
The guides are written for people who already enjoy a game and want to get better at it, and for people meeting a game for the first time. They describe the rules as DailyGameClub plays them (some games have house rules, and the guides say which ones are used here), and they avoid tricks that only work against one opponent. Every guide links to its game, so you can try an idea the moment you read it, and to related guides for the next step.
New words are explained where they first appear and collected in the glossary of 210 terms. Each guide shows when it was last updated. Questions or corrections are welcome through the contact page.