In this game you throw two dice and find their total, then move the appropriate counter to the right. Which counter reaches the purple box first?
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. . . .
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.
Add or subtract the two numbers on the spinners and try to complete a row of three. Are there some numbers that are good to aim for?
Have a go at this game which involves throwing two dice and adding their totals. Where should you place your counters to be more likely to win?
This article supplies teachers with information that may be useful in better understanding the nature of games and their role in teaching and learning mathematics.
A simple game of patience which often comes out. Can you explain why?
This article, the second in the series, looks at some different types of games and the sort of mathematical thinking they can develop.
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
Spiralling Decimals game for an adult and child. Can you get three decimals next to each other on the spiral before your partner?
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.
A game for 2 players. Take turns to place a counter so that it occupies one of the lowest possible positions in the grid. The first player to complete a line of 4 wins.
Gillian Hatch analyses what goes on when mathematical games are used as a pedagogic device.
Solve this Sudoku puzzle whose clues are in the form of sums of the numbers which should appear in diagonal opposite cells.
A game for 2 players that can be played online. Players take it in turns to select a word from the 9 words given. The aim is to select all the occurrences of the same letter.
Advent Calendar 2010 - a mathematical game for every day during the run-up to Christmas.
Can you beat the computer in the challenging strategy game?
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.
An interactive game to be played on your own or with friends. Imagine you are having a party. Each person takes it in turns to stand behind the chair where they will get the most chocolate.
A game for two people that can be played with pencils and paper. Combine your knowledge of coordinates with some strategic thinking.
Use your knowledge of place value to try to win this game. How will you maximise your score?
A Sudoku that uses transformations as supporting clues.
This article outlines how strategy games can help children develop logical thinking, using examples from the NRICH website.
Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.
In this game for two players, the idea is to take it in turns to choose 1, 3, 5 or 7. The winner is the first to make the total 37.
Here are some more upper primary strategy games for you to play.
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.
What might your first lesson with a new class look like? In this article, Cherri Moseley makes some suggestions for primary teachers.
Here is a version of the game 'Happy Families' for you to make and play.
A train building game for two players. Can you be the one to complete the train?
Calculate the fractional amounts of money to match pairs of cards with the same value.
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
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.
Can you make the birds from the egg tangram?
This is a challenging game of strategy for two players with many interesting variations.
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.
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
A game from Italy. Play with a friend and see if you can be the first to get five pieces in a line.
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.
This game is known as Pong hau k'i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Find a friend to play or try the interactive version online.
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.
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 game for 2 players. Draw a daisy with at least 5 petals. Shade 1 or 2 petals next to each other. The winner shades the last petal.