Friday night, I found myself in the midst of a battle oozing with treason and trickery. Sitting across from my roommate, caffeine-filled blood rapidly pumped through my veins as I heroically sacrificed my eighth-ranked miner in a suicidal attempt to capture my roommate’s flag.

Sweating with anticipation as the identity of the “Stratego” game piece was revealed, I leapt in satisfaction as I realized I had captured the opposing flag.

Spielbound Cafe, a new addition to the streets of Midtown, was the battleground for this historic moment. The cafe, which opened its doors a mere month ago, represents the first of its kind in Omaha.

Calling itself a “board game cafe,” it is home to more than 1,100 board games and provides a wonderful atmosphere in which patrons can play these games can be played.

Selling traditional coffee shop beverages as well as alcoholic drinks, Spielbound Cafe caters to a very diverse scene. It is the perfect place for a fun, relaxing night playing games and sipping on coffee, and equally as fit to house a rambunctious and competitive social get- together.

Currently, a promotion is going on in which first time visitors get to play unlimited board games for free. When the promotion ends the cost will be $5 or there are monthly and yearly membership options.

Not only is the cafe an evening hangout, but it is also working to build a morning customer base as well. Open from 11 a.m.-10p.m. Sunday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Monday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-12 a.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday, Spielbound can act as a morning study spot as well as an evening hangout.

In addition to “Stratego,” I went back to my second-grade roots of being enthralled by the glossy pastel marbles while playing “Mancala,” put my detective classes to the test playing “Clue,” and challenged my spelling skills in the “Jenga”-meets-”Scrabble” game called “Konexi.”

The shop was bustling with people laughing and strategizing Friday night. An elderly couple sat in the corner playing scrabble, a group of eight college students crowded around the high table jokingly arguing over game rules, and a newly dating young boy and girl got better acquainted over a game of “Sorry!”

For every age and interest, Spielbound Cafe is the perfect place to reminisce about childhood games, become enthralled in brain-teasing strategy games or simply enjoy good company.

Spielbound CafeClaudia Brock