Battleship Tactics
From basic hunting methods to probability-density calculations, here's a step-by-step guide to Battleship offense and defense tactics that win through probability, not guesswork.
Basic
Parity (Checkerboard) Search
Fire on every other cell like a checkerboard to guarantee grazing the smallest ship.
BasicTargeting Adjacent Cells After a Hit
Prioritize the cells above, below, left, and right of a hit to finish finding the ship.
BasicSpreading Out Your Fleet
Keep ships apart so a single track can't catch multiple ships at once.
BasicBasic Placement Principles
Mix edges, center, and orientation to create placements that can't be read.
Intermediate
Locking In a Direction
Once two consecutive cells are hit, target only the two ends of that line.
IntermediateCleaning Up After a Sinking
Once a ship is confirmed sunk, clear the area around it to simplify your next search.
IntermediateReading Miss Zones
Use the gaps created by misses to rule out cells too small to hold a ship.
IntermediateThe Concept of Probability Density
Cells with more possible ship placements passing through them have a higher chance of being hit.
Advanced
Probability-Density Firing
Count every possible placement of the remaining ships to calculate the highest-probability cell.
AdvancedTracking Remaining Ship Sizes
Remove sunk ships from consideration and adjust your search net to match the sizes left.
AdvancedAvoiding Predictable Placements
Drop unconscious human habits and use a different arrangement every time.
AdvancedEndgame Pressure
When few ships and unexplored cells remain, close out the match with calculation.