Counters

Ryan and Adam from Moorfield Junior School have obviously spent some time looking at this game. They have chosen two situations which they have broken down step by step:

If player one takes the middle counter out of the first column then player two should take all the counters from the fourth column (by taking the middle counter in the fourth column). Then there are two choices. Player one will pick one of the choices then player two will pick the other choice and player two wins.

If player one takes the middle counter in the second column then player two will take all the counters from the fourth column (by selecting the middle counter in the fourth column). Then there are four choices. Player one takes one of the choices, then player two takes another of the choices, then player one takes another of the choices and then there is one choice left. Player two takes the last counter and wins.

Do you agree? What other possible moves could player one start with? Would these be as good for player two? If you investigate this game further, email us your findings.