They pass the time, entertain, and hopefully, improve our physical or mental health and strength. Some games also teach, educate, and exercise the mind. Games are generally, but not always, played according to prescribed rules, formulas and patterns, and usually involve equipment such as pen and paper , cards , computers , dice or other counters, or specially marked boards . Differentiated from sports, games are usually more passive in nature, often involving intellectual skill more than physical capability. Usually there's a single winner, unless the game ends in a draw.
Games can involve skill, luck, or both in some measure.
Many games and sports started as a form of preparation for war. Chess , which originated in India or China in about the 6th or 7th century, re-creates the battlefield. The ancient Greeks made little distinction between sport and war, with violence and bloodshed often being part of the early Olympic Games. In modern times team games in the USA have gained wide acceptance in educational institutions, with scholarships granted for a increasing variety of sports activities. Some games are similar to organised sports and, like sports, they provide pleasure, relaxation, excitement, and challenge.