Worker placement
Worker placement is a mechanic where players take turns placing a limited number of "worker" tokens on action spaces on a shared board. Once a space is occupied that round, other players are usually blocked from using it — so action selection is also action denial.
Why it matters
Worker placement creates tense early-bird decisions: do you grab the action you need now, or the action you need to block from an opponent? It scales well from light family games to heavy euros.
Example
Agricola gives each player two starting workers (and earns more later). Action spaces include "plow a field," "take three wood," and "bake bread." If your opponent takes the bread space first, you wait a full round.