Board games bring people together. In fact, you don't even need to know the people you are playing with to enjoy the interaction and fun.

That's the premise behind A Gathering of Strangers, an annual board game convention that will take place Friday and Saturday at the Officers Club, 150 Fort Douglas Blvd., University of Utah.

Running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, the convention will feature nonstop game-playing (you can bring your own games or play the ones others have brought), several tournaments (including one featuring the brand-new Bridge Troll by Utahn Alf Seegert), a game trading table where you can swap your old games for others, and a competition of game designs with judges from several major games publishers.

Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for both days if purchased in advance and $5 more at the door.

For more information or to preregister and get tickets, go to www.gamesforthemind.com/AGOS/index.html.