Other tags that relate to Nim
Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae. Interactivities. Place value. Mathematical reasoning & proof. Working systematically. Number bases. Visualising. Factors and multiples. Games. Generalising.There are 95 results
Broad Topics > Thinking Mathematically > Games
Nim
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Pentanim
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
A game for 2 players with similarities 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.
Winning Lines
Age 7 to 16
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
Jam
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
To avoid losing think of another very well known game where the patterns of play are similar.
Got It
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
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.
One, Three, Five, Seven
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Games Related to Nim
Age 5 to 16
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.
Sliding Puzzle
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Got it for Two
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Got It game for an adult and child. How can you play so that you know you will always win?
Nim-7
Age 5 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
Have You Got It?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you explain the strategy for winning this game with any target?
Nim-7 for Two
Age 5 to 14 Challenge Level:
Nim-7 game for an adult and child. Who will be the one to take the last counter?
Yih or Luk Tsut K'i or Three Men's Morris
Age 11 to 18 Challenge Level:
Some puzzles requiring no knowledge of knot theory, just a careful inspection of the patterns. A glimpse of the classification of knots and a little about prime knots, crossing numbers and. . . .
Wari
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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?
Learning Mathematics Through Games Series: 4. from Strategy Games
Age 5 to 14
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. . . .
Quadruple Clue Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
The Remainders Game
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Play this game and see if you can figure out the computer's chosen number.
Countdown
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.
Square It
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Sprouts Explained
Age 7 to 18
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. . . .
Slippery Snail
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
A game for two people, who take turns to move the counters. The player to remove the last counter from the board wins.
Factors and Multiples Game
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?
Patience
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A simple game of patience which often comes out. Can you explain why?
Turnablock
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Twin Corresponding Sudokus II
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
Making Maths: Snake Pits
Age 5 to 14 Challenge Level:
A game to make and play based on the number line.
Tangram Pictures
Age 5 to 14 Challenge Level:
Use the tangram pieces to make our pictures, or to design some of your own!
Latin Lilies
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
Have a go at this game which has been inspired by the Big Internet Math-Off 2019. Can you gain more columns of lily pads than your opponent?
Spiralling Decimals for Two
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Spiralling Decimals game for an adult and child. Can you get three decimals next to each other on the spiral before your partner?
Nice or Nasty for Two
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Some Games That May Be Nice or Nasty for an adult and child. Use your knowledge of place value to beat your opponent.
Factors and Multiples Game for Two
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Factors and Multiples game for an adult and child. How can you make sure you win this game?
Spiralling Decimals
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Take turns to place a decimal number on the spiral. Can you get three consecutive numbers?
18 Hole Light Golf
Age 5 to 16 Challenge Level:
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?
Charlie's Delightful Machine
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you develop a strategy to work out the rules controlling each light?
Dicey Operations
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Who said that adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing couldn't be fun?
Seasonal Twin Sudokus
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
Nice or Nasty
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
Twin Corresponding Sudoku III
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
Squayles
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
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.
Diamond Collector
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Collect as many diamonds as you can by drawing three straight lines.
Low Go
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Fifteen
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you spot the similarities between this game and other games you know? The aim is to choose 3 numbers that total 15.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.