That’s not gum stuck in my keyboard. Those words you’re stumbling over are two of the fun board games played on Game Night at Yahoo!.

Every Monday evening, dozens of Yahoos and non-Yahoos gather at URL’s café on our Sunnyvale campus to do battle over strategic games, drink caffeine, socialize, and generally plot ways to conquer territories like Catan and Neuland (yikes, that smell is my spellchecker). Cofounded by Yahoo! Strategic Analyst Randy Farmer, the Silicon Valley Boardgamers (check ’em out in Yahoo! Groups) play a range of games, but they lean towards “Euro-style” strategy board games. "I especially love playing German board games because they're the best," Randy explained. "But I have to use Yahoo! Search to find English versions of the rules since I can't read German."

The makeup of the group runs from young to not-so-young and male to female – but it’s mostly engineers. People come from all over the Bay Area, and quite a few international players stop by when they're in town. Players include current, former, and aspiring Yahoos (yes, several job offers have resulted from these weekly interactions).

According to Randy, although group members also enjoy computer-based games, they relish the chance to master the social and intellectual challenges of board games. He particularly loves sharpening his reasoning and influencing skills (which sure comes in handy here at Yahoo!). Game playing lasts at least three hours, though some games have gone well past midnight. "Most of the players are in committed relationships and come to play after work. It's amazing how many phones pop out at 10:00 p.m. with people saying, 'Just about to leave…'"

Randy owns 30-plus board games himself, but has played more than 100 (each week players bring their own, teaching others how to play), with names like Settlers of Catan, Tigris & Euphrates, and Age of Steam. These games are fairly easy to learn and play, but they do reward solid, strategic thinking. Yet if someone wants to play a quick game of Liar’s Dice, that’s OK too.

Reps from board game companies even show up regularly to test new concepts. The just-released Seismic was road-tested at Yahoo!, as are several by Locust Games, a publisher of strategy, family board, and card games run by Yahoo! Interaction Designer Matt Leacock.

If you're new to gaming, don’t worry, the group is all about having fun. For finishing last, Randy's 19-year-old daughter was once sentenced to walking around URL's while performing "I'm A Little Teapot." Plus, the “Hosedown Rule” (which fortunately has yet to be enforced) requires that game owners be sprayed with water in the courtyard when the newbies they teach score low.

On Tuesday morning, members get an emailed recap of games played, winners and losers (especially when they've been defeated by a newbie), notable quotes overheard, and a wry observation or two. "I'm not sure how I feel about that, since I tend to lose these games pretty spectacularly," says Randy.

Needless to say, it’s a good time had by one and all. So if you’re ever in the neighborhood and game for a round of Nexus Ops (with translucent pieces), Randy and the gang would love to see you.

Darrell Jones
Copywriter