OK, I am about to describe a very simple game here that can be played just about anywhere. It is very simple, and very fun (IMO) but no matter how hard I try to analyze th damn game I can’t get it down (might help if I tried sober, but I never play the game when I’m sober).
Here is the layout:
X
X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X X X
Ok, the "X"s represent objects of some kind. I usually use pennies, but in a pinch I’ve substituted peanut shells, pieces of lint, just about any discernable relatively stable object. Once the “pieces” are liad out as above the game begins.
Players take turns. We have here, luckily, Player A and Player B. A and B have already fought a duel and decided that A goes first (note: duel not necessary ;)). Now, here is the definition of a legal turn:
The player may remove any number of pieces from a horizontal row at a time, but the player must take at least one. So, A will take his turn.
X
X X X
X X X X X
X
Note there are still four rows. It is now B’s turn. He can take one from the top or bottom row (since there is only one in each) or he may take 1, 2, or 3 from the second or 1-5 from the third. Turns alternate.
Point to game: do not take the last piece.
NOW, in my opinion and from playing the game quite a few times it seems that, were the game to be played by two “perfect” players, the winner of the game would then be determined by who went first (though it might mean that whoever went first was destined to lose, of course).
Can anyone help me analyze this game and come up with something? I’ve tried to tackle it in a number of ways and though I can come up with a few “target patterns” toward the end to shoot for I cannot find any similarity between them and I cannot, from the beginning, predict what a great move would be.
Oh, and if you dont figure it out, have fun playing it. It seems so damn simple.