Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Can you beat the computer in the challenging strategy game?
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.
The aim of the game is to slide the green square from the top right hand corner to the bottom left hand corner in the least number of moves.
Can you be the first to complete a row of three?
Match the cards of the same value.
Match pairs of cards so that they have equivalent ratios.
Start with any number of counters in any number of piles. 2 players take it in turns to remove any number of counters from a single pile. The winner is the player to take the last counter.
Help the bee to build a stack of blocks far enough to save his friend trapped in the tower.
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
A game for 2 players with similaritlies to NIM. Place one counter on each spot on the games board. Players take it is turns to remove 1 or 2 adjacent counters. The winner picks up the last counter.
Can you discover whether this is a fair game?
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
A collection of games on the NIM theme
This article for teachers describes several games, found on the site, all of which have a related structure that can be used to develop the skills of strategic planning.
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you develop a strategy to work out the rules controlling each light?
A Sudoku with clues as ratios.
A game for 1 person to develop stategy and shape and space awareness. 12 counters are placed on a board. Counters are removed one at a time. The aim is to be left with only 1 counter.
Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?
Basic strategy games are particularly suitable as starting points for investigations. Players instinctively try to discover a winning strategy, and usually the best way to do this is to analyse. . . .
A game to make and play based on the number line.
All you need for this game is a pack of cards. While you play the game, think about strategies that will increase your chances of winning.
Work out the fractions to match the cards with the same amount of money.
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
A game for 2 players. Given an arrangement of matchsticks, players take it is turns to remove a matchstick, along with all of the matchsticks that touch it.
This is a game for two players. You will need some small-square grid paper, a die and two felt-tip pens or highlighters. Players take turns to roll the die, then move that number of squares in. . . .
This is a game for 2 players. Each player has 4 counters each, and wins by blocking their opponent's counters. A good follow-on from two stones.
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. . . .
A simple game of patience which often comes out. Can you explain why?
A game for two or more players that uses a knowledge of measuring tools. Spin the spinner and identify which jobs can be done with the measuring tool shown.
A game for 1 or 2 people. Use the interactive version, or play with friends. Try to round up as many counters as possible.
This article invites you to get familiar with a strategic game called "sprouts". The game is simple enough for younger children to understand, and has also provided experienced mathematicians with. . . .
A game for 2 or more people. Starting with 100, subratct a number from 1 to 9 from the total. You score for making an odd number, a number ending in 0 or a multiple of 6.
A game for 2 or more players with a pack of cards. Practise your skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to hit the target score.
A Sudoku with a twist.
A train building game for 2 players.
In this article for teachers, Liz Woodham describes the criteria she uses to choose mathematical games for the classroom and shares some examples from NRICH.
Use the tangram pieces to make our pictures, or to design some of your own!
Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.
Who said that adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing couldn't be fun?
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
Advent Calendar 2010 - a mathematical game for every day during the run-up to Christmas.
Unmultiply is a game of quick estimation. You need to find two numbers that multiply together to something close to the given target - fast! 10 levels with a high scores table.
Design your own scoring system and play Trumps with these Olympic Sport cards.
Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.
Many natural systems appear to be in equilibrium until suddenly a critical point is reached, setting up a mudslide or an avalanche or an earthquake. In this project, students will use a simple. . . .
The computer starts with all the lights off, but then clicks 3, 4 or 5 times at random, leaving some lights on. Can you switch them off again?
We think this 3x3 version of the game is often harder than the 5x5 version. Do you agree? If so, why do you think that might be?
A game that tests your understanding of remainders.
Here is a version of the game 'Happy Families' for you to make and play.