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A simple game for 2 players invented by John Conway. It is played on a 3x3 square board with 9 counters that are black on one side and white on the other.
1. LATE GRIN (2 solutions)
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?
Advent Calendar 2010 - a mathematical game for every day during the run-up to Christmas.
Follow-up to the February Game Rules of FEMTO.
This article explains the use of the idea of connectedness in networks, in two different ways, to bring into focus the basics of the game of Go, namely capture and territory.
The game of go has a simple mechanism. This discussion of the principle of two eyes in go has shown that the game does not depend on equally clear-cut concepts.
Can you be the first to complete a row of three?
A new card game for two players.
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.
This sudoku requires you to have "double vision" - two Sudoku's for the price of one
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.
A game for 2 players
A Sudoku with a twist.
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
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.
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?
Four numbers on an intersection that need to be placed in the surrounding cells. That is all you need to know to solve this sudoku.
A Sudoku that uses transformations as supporting clues.
A Sudoku with clues as ratios.
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
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.
Solve this Sudoku puzzle whose clues are in the form of sums of the numbers which should appear in diagonal opposite cells.
This article shows how abstract thinking and a little number theory throw light on the scoring in the game Go.
Gillian Hatch analyses what goes on when mathematical games are used as a pedagogic device.
This is an interactive net of a Rubik's cube. Twists of the 3D cube become mixes of the squares on the 2D net. Have a play and see how many scrambles you can undo!
This second Sudoku article discusses "Corresponding Sudokus" which are pairs of Sudokus with terms that can be matched using a substitution rule.
A game for 2 people. Take turns to move the counters 1, 2 or 3 spaces. The player to remove the last counter off the board wins.
A Sudoku based on clues that give the differences between adjacent cells.
A game for 2 people. Take turns joining two dots, until your opponent is unable to move.
Given the products of diagonally opposite cells - can you complete this Sudoku?
A Sudoku with clues as ratios or fractions.
This is a simple version of an ancient game played all over the world. It is also called Mancala. What tactics will increase your chances of winning?
Can you identify the mathematicians?
A Sudoku with clues given as sums of entries.
A game for 2 players. Set out 16 counters in rows of 1,3,5 and 7. Players take turns to remove any number of counters from a row. The player left with the last counter looses.
Can you discover whether this is a fair game?
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.
A collection of games on the NIM theme
To avoid losing think of another very well known game where the patterns of play are similar.
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you develop a strategy to work out the rules controlling each light?
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 loser is the player who takes the last counter.
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
Can you beat the computer in the challenging strategy game?
Help the bee to build a stack of blocks far enough to save his friend trapped in the tower.
A mathematically themed crossword.
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.