Although we usually think of the Avalon Hill Company as the founder of board wargaming and one of its two super powers today, it also makes other types of games, including some of the best sports games on the market. Their FOOTBALL STRATEGY has had a profound influence on most subsequent football and other sports board games. Their most recent addition is BASKETBALL STRATEGY, now about a year old. Unfortunately we did not receive a review copy when it first came out.

It comes in the standard Avalon Hill 8 1/2" x 11" bookcase box without outer slipcase and contains: a 16"x22" multicolor heavy cardboard playing board which contains the basketball "court" and numerous charts, many of which are duplicated at both ends of the board; an 8 1/2"x11" sheet of die-cut counters of 3/4"-square, 3/4"x1/2" and 1"-square sizes in black, white and grey; 2 sets of 2 1/2" square Defense Cards; 2 blue plastic pawns and two 5/8" plastic discs - one black, one white; an 8"x11" 24-page rules booklet; a 6 1/2"x 8 1/2" pad of scorepads; and two 1/2" cube dice - one white, one yellow. The game was designed by Donald Greenwood.

As with the other AH sports games, it is built around a matrix system - in this case it is the Passing Matrix, wherein a "pass" is not necessarily really a single pass but a series of passes and/ or dribbles to get the ball from one spot -on the court to another. It is this manuevering for the shot which provides most of the opportunities for strategy in the game, in addition to choosing of line- ups and positioning. It is a more complex game than AH's FOOTBALL and BASEBALL games, due to the non-stop, extremely rapid play in real basketball. The game can be enJoyed to its fullest only when it is played fast by experienced players, who should be able to complete a full game in about 90 minutes. It sells for $10 and is available at better hobby and game stores across the country.

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