Life In 19x19

The library's summer reading theme this yer is sports. Since I run the Go club, I have been chosen to make a Mind Sports event.

Obviously, Go and Chess will be represented.

What else would you suggest I should have at the event? Checkers seems obvious. I am probably including Scrabble, to try to get something less mathematical involved. I am also considering which other games and activities would be good. (I will have some budget, but not enough to get every strategy game out there.)

Backgammon?
And if it is not only about board games, 2 decks of cards?

Othello, aka Reversi

Seems natural to include at least the games hosted by the International Mind Sports Association. Since you've already mentioned Go, Chess, and Checkers, I suppose you could also consider Bridge.

Bridge seems good because it helps diversify the base that's appealed to. Lots of people who don't think of themselves as the sorts of people who play Go or Chess nonetheless play Bridge.

Supposing you restrict yourself to abstract two-player board games, in which the only luck is the right to make the first move, you should include the most established variant(s) of Mankala, International Checkers, Xiangqi, Shogi. If you relax numbers of players and do not require "board on the table", the next candidate is Bridge. If you further relaxed requirements, you would open a never ending list of German Games, card games, arcane abstract games, Scrabble, Domino, Backgammon etc.

How about speedcubing? Colorful, exiting and attractive to kids.

Don't forget crossword puzzles. There are tournaments.

Poker is big.

I might add Boggle to the list. It has the advantage rapid turnover, so passers-by might be inclined to drop 5 minutes on a game.

Cool, all sorts of awesome ideas! Thanks, everyone!

gomoku, connect4

Canasta, and perhaps other similar games.