Each round is thirty seconds long. You have three missiles to fire at the sea. If you hit part of a ship, the board displays an x. If it doesn’t, it reveals a blue circle. Spend your opening shots firing at random. Sooner or later, you’ll stumble on your first ship. Toward the late game, probability gives way to deduction.

You can also use the opening to your advantage. Situate your fleet far from one another to reduce their chances of getting hit. Put your smallest ship in the most unlikely corner you can conceive. Often, this smaller ship will be your only ticket to victory.