INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Each Stratego set comes with a 10X10 board to play on. The board is large enough to accommodate both players' armies plus non-moving pieces. The board has two 2X2 lake areas on it that pieces cannot move through and that act as the barrier space when you first set up the game. Do not place any pieces on or near these spots when you set up the game. Keep the two center rows of the board empty until the game has started. Each Stratego game comes with two sets of army pieces (one red and one blue). Each army has 33 army pieces and every piece is ranked from 1-10 (1 is the lowest rank and 10 is the highest rank). Each set also includes 6 Bombs and 1 Flag, but these pieces are not ranked and they do not move. Only the army pieces may move and attack. Each army set includes: 10: 1 Marshall 9: 1 General 8: 2 Colonels 7: 3 Majors 6: 4 Captains 5: 4 Lieutenants 4: 4 Sergeants 3: 5 Miners 2: 8 Scouts 1: 1 Spy Since there are two sets, you and your opponent will each have to choose a color before you can set up the game. Try choosing at random by holding two different color pieces in each hand (so your opponent cannot see them) and ask your opponent to choose one. Whatever color your opponent chooses will be his or her color for the game. Before you set you your army pieces, you will need to set up the fortress screen to prevent your opponent from seeing how you are positioning your pieces. Do not remove the fortress screen from the board until you and your opponent have finished setting up the board. As you set up your pieces, make sure that they are facing you and not your opponent. Your opponent should not be able to see the types of your pieces and you should not be able to see the types of your opponent's pieces. After you have set up your pieces, you are ready to play.

SUMMARY: Set up the board. Get familiar with the army pieces. Choose your army color. Put up the fortress screen. Set up your pieces.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: They should be served at room temperature. Keep the climate in mind before you serve. If it's a hot summer day, your cheese may only need 10 or 15 minutes. If your refrigerator is particularly cold, your cheese may take an hour to come to room temperature. Keep the rest of the wheel in a cool room or refrigerator. Wipe the knife, then score the cheese rind. Apply pressure to the section of cheese you want to cut off by rocking the knife back and forth. Good etiquette dictates that guests shouldn't leave the rind on the board, whether or not they follow that rule. Most rinds are edible. Unless your crowd recognizes cheese by sight, a small chalkboard, a serving card or a label will help them navigate. You are less likely to have people select a cheese that they won't like and refuse to eat if you label everything.

SUMMARY: Remove portions of a cheese wheel from the fridge approximately 30 minutes before you plan to serve them. Cut a portion of cheese before serving if you have a whole wheel. Create a clean cut from the wheel by dipping a sharp cook's knife in hot water. Consider plating the cheeses separately if you don't have large platters or plates on which to display them. Leave the rind on the cheese when you serve it. Label your cheese before you serve it.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you stay stationary in the crease, you won't have as much time to react against a fast bowler. Upon their delivery, trigger by stepping back slightly so you can quickly position yourself for the right shot. As you step back, be sure to keep 75% of your weight on your front foot so your back foot doesn't get stuck. If your transfer too much weight to your back foot, it'll take longer to make a shot with a forward step. With more weight on your front foot, you'll be able to quickly forward or back, depending on the shot you need to make. Remember to keep your weight on the balls of your feet to quicken your footwork. If you're facing a fast bowler, odds they're aiming to put down the wicket. Step forward with your front leg, and make a straight shot by swinging the bat upward with the full face of the bat facing the ball. Remember to focus on making contact instead of trying to drive the ball. If the ball bounces early, step backward with your back foot and prepare to make a high defensive shot. Instead of swinging straight, swing the bat to the side to drive the ball toward a gap. This swing is called a pull shot, and it's used to drive the ball to the leg side. With a fast bowler, you're more likely to score runs by making strategic shots toward gaps instead of driving it to the boundary. While you'll likely need to make lots of defensive shots against a fast bowler, stay ready to react to a shot that bounces at a favorable length at middle or off stump. When the opportunity for a back-foot drive arises, keep most of your weight forward, draw your front foot back, and align the bat with the ball's trajectory. Guide the shot with your top hand, and power it by punching with your bottom hand. Follow through with the bat and your hands in a high position in line with the shot.

SUMMARY:
Work on triggering to stay in motion before the pitch. Defend the stumps if the bowler is aiming low and fast. Swing the bat to the side if the ball bounces short. Look for opportunities for back foot drives.