Derb: Just read your excellent column on playing Stratego with your 8-year-old boy in the current NRODT. I grew up playing the game with my grandfather, a man with a soft spot for Napoleon because he came from French stock. I’d be curious to know your theory on letting children win games such as these in order to keep their interest alive while they learn. I’m still teaching my 6-year-old son the finer points of checkers. Sometimes I go ahead and beat him, sometimes I let him work us into a draw, and sometimes I let him experience the joy of victory–but I know he’d be crushed if I told him the truth. I really want him to clobber me one of these days, and I’m sure he will. But I’m eager to move on to Risk and Stratego and Axis & Allies–and have him whip me at those games as well.