Stratego! I have played hours of this game with my dad. I love how every game is different. It has a simple goal but enough strategy (hence the name) to make it entertaining every time.
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You've pretty much nailed my two favorite games: Risk and Monopoly. I like the amount of strategy and psychology involved, and the fact that they don't rely as much on luck as other games (although there's certainly plenty of luck involved!) Instead, you have to get a feel for the other players and what they're planning.

http://www.yogee.com.au/images/Hasbro_44_Risk_A.jpg

I'm also a fan of word games like Scrabble, Boggle, and the like. This is probably because I like words and playing with them.

http://trickledown.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/scrabble-large.jpg
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Catan all the way. To me it is the best game out there.

1) The outcome is not foretold early in the game, as it in the other games mentioned. Monopoly is won in the first 10 turns or so. Then it takes hours just to get to the end. Risk is won by whomever gets Australia and has any sense at all.

2) Each player is involved during each turn, unlike other games where the inactive players can have nothing to do for many minutes.

3) Social interaction is promoted, and in fact is required for success. Collaboration is rewarded. It is very difficult to win as a non-collaborator

4) Games are usually done within an hour

5) There are mechanisms to bring a player who is behind closer to winning, keeping the game close (The Robber being the most significant.)

6) The game is different each time you set it up, keeping it interesting.

Catan rocks.
Source(s):
http://www.mahalo.com/catan

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Scene It Movie Edition - I LOVE movies so this is the perfect game for me with real movie clips and it is on a DVD so I can play this in my home theater for great quality fun. I have played the first movie edition so much that I had to just buy the 2nd edition this weekend because I have seen all the clips on the first one. This is the best game ever invented!!

http://php.screenlifegames.com/si_movie2.php
Source(s):
http://php.screenlifegames.com/si_movie2.php

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Avalon Hill's D-Day! If you are the Allies, you don't have to invade at Normandy. I liked to play the Germans though.

More images of the game board and pieces at the posted link.
Source(s):
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/images/thing/1919

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I like Scrabble

http://renaissanceguy.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/scrabble_box_open.jpg

also Monopoly

http://www.siegeljcc.org/clientuploads/monopoly.jp

I love APBA Baseball, so realistic, amazing game for any baseball fan

http://tabletopbaseball.org/images/APBA.jpg
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my favorite board game is chess.
"Chess is a board game played between two players. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from a similar, much older game of Indian origin. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments." {information quoted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess}

imagine you are fighting a war. from the beginning the enemy takes control crushing your attacking force charging to break down your defense. hardly anything you can do but pray for a miracle to happen to make you win this war. despite the fact the enemy is winning the battle you still have an opportunity to win the war. the enemy fails to capitalize on a move to kill you off and then you see salvation at last you make your move crafty and deadly all at once the enemy doesn't even see it coming checkmate you win.
this is chess the most brilliant game created by man . there is none like it so simple so hard so peaceful so frustrating so technical so easy so everything.
as a guy once said any one can play chess but only a few can master it. and that in it self is the ultimate quest.and that statement is fact. when it comes to a chess game you have to take so much into consideration just sitting down here thinking about is blowing my mind
you must have a strong opening game middle game and end, you must know when to CASTLE , a good EN PASSANT, PROTECT YOUR KING AT ALL COST, when to sacrifice a lesser piece instead of a more dominant piece, try not to draw or allow the game to stalemate,have to know how to maintain a proper PAWN STRUCTURE. know how to count THE TOTAL VALUE OF PIECES. you must have a good strategy to succeed . you must know when to do certain moves and avoid them also PINS,SKEWERS,BATTERIES,FORKS,DISCOVERED ATTACKS UNDERMINING,OVERLOADING ETC

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE TO KNOW to be a good player. AS I SAID THERE IS NO OTHER GAME ON EARTH LIKE IT TECHNICAL TACTICAL STRATEGIC SO MENTALLY PENETRATING WORDS CANT EVEN DESCRIBE THE ASPECTS OF THIS GAME ONLY PLAYING IT WILL. NOT TO KEEN ON THE OTHER BOARD GAMES BUT I KNOW I WOULD BE ABLE TO MASTER THEM BUT CAN ANY CAN MASTER CHESS?
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_tactics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess

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Oh, Settlers of Catan! I was about to answer that, but then I thought of Carcassonne, and then I thought of Betrayal at House on the Hill. I used to have a board game night filled with all quirky games like that. But I guess for this question, Betrayal at House on the Hill is my favorite simply because it's extremely fun and extremely hard to get your own copy.

http://strategygamersworld.com/images/gamecovers/covers7/betrayalathouse.jpg

House on the Hill is played using tiles you place to create the game field, in this case a house with lots of different rooms and three levels (basement, ground floor, attic). Based on one of the many story lines in the manual, one of the players will secretly betray the others and they must defeat the traitor before he finishes them off. There are six characters, each with different stats, that fight using dice-rolls.

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic59799_md.jpg

Any game where you get to create your own board is a blast. Just be warned, you need a lot of table space for this one!
Source(s):
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10547

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I still enjoy the classics: Cluedo, Risk and Monopoly, are still great fun!
Free Cluedo PC game
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