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Age 11 to 16
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  • Game

This is a game for two players. You will need 16 objects, like matchsticks or counters.

Set the objects out in a row of 7, a row of 5, a row of 3 and a row of just 1.

Players take turns in a choosing a row then removing any number of objects from that row.

The player left with the last object is the loser.

Try playing it with a different number of objects.
Try playing it with a different number of rows.
Can you find any winning strategies?
Does it matter who goes first?

(Thanks to Chris from Active Training Education who is champion at this game!)

Printable NRICH Roadshow resource. 

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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.

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