An intensely amusing game is the dartboard game Killer.  What fascinates me so about this game is the direct analogy to struggle and strategy found in power politics.  The game is simple enough: players are assigned an initial number and must hit that number six times, one time for each letter in Killer.  Each player has three shots per round.  Once a player has spelled Killer they become a Killer and are thus able to shoot at other players' numbers.  A hit on another player's number results in a loss of one of their letters.  Once a player is hit without any letters, he/she must regain a letter back on the next round of shooting or he/she is out.

Tim, Tony, Dar Dar, and I played a game last week at a pub in Austin. First we all employed the balance of power strategy, that is, going after the player who appeared to be in the lead.  Reasonably, one must take pains to assure that the powerful does not become more powerful, lest you should inevitably be crushed.  However, this balance stalemated, and it became apparent that as soon as one became the top Killer everyone would go after him and he would soon lose power, in an endless cycle.  Finally, the Machiavellian strategy was pursued.  One player decided to kick another player while he was down.  He was soon out.  After that the rest fell rather quickly.  I do believe that Machiavelli would have been proud.