The Royal Game of Ur is an intriguing wee bugger, it really is. I daresay there's a full analysis of it out there, but for now I'm having enough fun playing. Analysis comes later.
And for one last thought:
artbroken has informed my consumer whoring yet again. I'm rather enjoying Diane Wynne Jones' Tough Guide to Fantasyland, and the best bit is that it's research — mostly into what not to do, this is true, but research all the same. 