List

Strategy Games

Nim-7
problem
Favourite

Nim-7

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
Seeing Squares
problem
Favourite

Seeing Squares

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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.

Stop the Clock
problem
Favourite

Stop the Clock

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?

Factors and Multiples Game
game
Favourite

Factors and Multiples Game

A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?

Nice or Nasty
problem
Favourite

Nice or Nasty

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
Got It
problem
Favourite

Got It

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.

Meet the Nim Family
article

Meet the Nim Family

Jennifer Piggott and the NRICH team introduce Nim-like games to help children think creatively in mathematics.
Going For Games
article

Going For Games

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.
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
list

More Strategy Games Lower Primary

Age
5 to 7
These lower primary strategy games supplement the Strategy Games feature and help children develop logical thinking skills.
Got \It Article
article

Got It Article

This article gives you a few ideas for understanding the Got It! game and how you might find a winning strategy.
Winning Lines
article

Winning Lines

An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
list

More Strategy Games Upper Primary

Age
7 to 11
These upper primary strategy games supplement those in our strategy games feature and will help improve children's logical thinking skills.