Pittsburgh, PA – (May 28, 2010) – Makers of the new hit strategy game, Tri-Cross®, arrive in Pittsburgh next week to teach students about mental gymnastics.

Jeff Burns , vice president of Game for Competitors, said, “Playing games is great way for kids to think in a strategic, deductive way. Because they are playing a game, the educational aspects and mental stimulation is the tremendous benefit to just having fun.”

“We didn’t intentionally design Tri-Cross as an ‘educational’ game and we don’t want it to be labeled as a learning game per se because what kid wants to play education. They want to play a game,” Burns explained.

Games for Competitors, based in Atlanta Georgia , started taking Tri-Cross into the local schools to teach kids about strategic thinking. The teachers quickly embraced the game and more schools were added to the presentation schedule. In parts of Georgia , Tri-Cross is now part of the school curricula.

“Since we started doing this last year, we were suddenly thrust into an amazing invisible network of teacher-to-teacher communication that we did not know existed. Teachers have to be one of the most connected professions in the world. When they find something that works, they share the information in abundance. We receive a lot of invitations from educators all over the country, but, in particular, we had numerous requests from the Pittsburgh area. We’re pleased to come to Pittsburgh to meet the demand.”

On June 1 st and 2 nd, Games for Competitors will be teaching over 300 students (3 rd - 8 th graders) at The Sacred Heart Elementary School through three different 45-minute presentations. The instruction will teach the students how to think with strategy and how to play Tri-Cross. After each instruction period, the kids break up into pairs and play the game together and learn about how to think strategically.

“Teachers have termed Tri-Cross as ‘the new chess’ or ‘quick chess,’” Burns explained. “Teachers and parents really love the way the game is faster to play than traditional chess, so that kids stay focused and entertained, but it also contains all of the mental stimulation, deductive reasoning, and educational benefits of some of the great evergreen games like chess and checkers.”

Adding Pittsburgh to its educational tour, Games for Competitors now operates on-going regular instruction, seminars, as well as Tri-Cross tournaments in five markets including, Atlanta, Houston, Orlando and Tampa, FL.

Tri-Cross is a multi-player, abstract thinking game that challenges players to think strategically, anticipate moves and problem solve in a unique way. Tri-Cross has six optional variations of play, varying in degrees of difficulty, making it an instant favorite among strategists, parents and teachers. Since making its debut at the 2008 New York Toy Fair, Tri-Cross has gained nationwide attention and won several industry and educational awards and approval rates including, Creative Child Magazine’s 2008 Game of the Year, Dr. Toy ’s 100 Best Products of 2009 and the National Parent Center ’s Seal of Approval.

Tri-Cross (MSRP $24.99) comes in a traditional boxed board game version, as well as Tri-Cross Travel/Eco version (MSRP $19.99) that comes in a recycled canvas drawstring bag and plays on a poly-cotton roll-up cloth board. The game is recommended for 2-4 players ages 8 and up. It is available at specialty toy and hobby stores and several online retailers. For a list of retailers, additional information and strategy tips, and game tournaments schedules, visit the company website at www.gamesforcompetitors.com.

About Games for Competitors
GFC is a company that is continually working to bring quality board games to all ages. A family owned and operated company, GFC will continue to produce games that are fun, challenging, and of course competitive!  Based in Atlanta , GFC has been extremely involved in the community. Since its inception, the company has worked with schools, philanthropic organizations, and local groups to further the love of learning and environmental awareness.

Twenty-five years ago, a father with his wife, who was a teacher, and three young sons and a struggling business, had the idea to design a game. Glenn Burns wanted to design a game that could be learned and played out within a short period of time and become increasingly challenging. He wanted it to become a new strategy board game like chess, checkers, dominoes, etc. The concept of Tri-Cross was developed and a few hundred samples made it to market in 1986. Tri-Cross sold out in Atlanta stores and earned a mention for “the best new strategy game of 1987” by Games Magazine. Despite its initial success, the game business took a backseat to other concerns, until the Burns’ sons started to take more interest in and ownership of the game. Finally, in 2007 a new version of Tri-Cross came to market. Jeff Burns took the reigns of the company in 2008, updated the rulebook, and changed the business model. With an increased emphasis on the hobby market and educational aspects of the game, as well as taking advantage of the Euro-game trend in the U.S., Tri-Cross is now played as part of school curricula and developing a growing fan base throughout the U.S. as well as internationally.