Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Got It for Two

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Game


Here's a game to play with an adult! It is a version of a well known game called Nim.

 

How do you play?
You'll need an adult to play with.
You will also need some paper to write down the numbers on, or you could use the interactive version here.
Start with the Got It target 23. The adult chooses a whole number from 1 to 4. Then take turns to add a whole number from 1 to 4 to the running total. The person who hits the target of 23 wins the game. Play the game several times, swapping who goes first. To change the game, choose a new Got It target or a new range of numbers to add on.

Can you find a winning strategy?
Can you always win?
Does your strategy depend on whether or not you go first?
When is it better to go first and when is it better to let the grown-up go first?
Can you work out a winning strategy for any target?
Can you work out a winning strategy for any range of numbers?

Notes for adults
This game helps children to practise simple addition and subtraction. However, the real challenge is to find a winning strategy that always works and this involves working systematically, conjecturing, refining ideas, generalising and using knowledge of factors and multiples.

Easier version: have a lower target and a shorter range of numbers (e.g. 10, using 1 and 2). Note down running totals.
Harder version: play without writing anything down, or play a variation where a player cannot add the same number as that used previously by the opponent.

Repeat the game, aiming to find a winning strategy, then talk together about how it was found.

There's a classroom version of this game here.

You may also like

Have You Got It?

Can you explain the strategy for winning this game with any target?

Traffic Lights

The game uses a 3x3 square board. 2 players take turns to play, either placing a red on an empty square, or changing a red to orange, or orange to green. The player who forms 3 of 1 colour in a line wins.

Yih or Luk Tsut K'i or Three Men's Morris

Some puzzles requiring no knowledge of knot theory, just a careful inspection of the patterns. A glimpse of the classification of knots and a little about prime knots, crossing numbers and knot arithmetic.

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo