I bought this game as a gift for my son who was not quite 11 at the time. We've played it many times, and have enjoyed it a great deal. At first glance, the rules may seem a bit complex, as each turn of the game is divided into six phases. However, most of these phases are quite short, and once you play the game once or twice, you realize how quickly play can progress. This is a good introduction to more complex strategy games, as its rules are relatively simple, but successful play requires careful planning and a bit of subterfuge. As you might imagine, the game has good historical value as well.