# Suggest some simple logic games to test children. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160 "2004-08-16T23:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/1 "2004-08-16T23:50:40Z")
In another thread tic-tac-toe (or naughts and crosses as it is called this side of the puddle) is mentioned, and that it is relatively easy logic wise to draw every single game. I wondered if my 6 and 8 year old nieces are clever enough to draw at the game every time (I vaguelly remember confirming that at least one of them is) so I will test them next time I see them. What other logic games can I use to test them? ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/2 "2004-08-17T03:20:27Z")
Since my oldest boy was in Kindergarten, we have done mental math games during/after dinner. It started with basics and now has advanced to multiplication problems and simple division. He’s now going into second grade and can do simple division and knows his multiplication facts up to 8. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/3 "2004-08-17T05:55:24Z")
I wouldn’t call this a logic game (but then, I wouldn’t call tic-tac-toe a “logic-game”) but it is a simple chance-free strategy game - is that what you’re looking for? I don’t know what it’s called. Draw a square grid of dots (however large you like - 4x4 is good for practise runs). You join two dots with a line anywhere you like (horizontal or vertical, neighbors only). Then your opponent does the same, anywhere they like. If your line completes a square, you put your initial inside it and draw another line. Person with the most boxes at the end wins, obviously. Once they start beating you it’s time to check out the price of zimmer frames and retirement homes 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CloudClever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@CloudClever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CloudClever)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/4 "2004-08-17T17:19:53Z")
A cruel stick game my Grade 12 math teacher taught us: You lay down 20 toothpicks. You can take one or two toothpicks at a time (and your partner does the same, you alternate turns). Who ever takes the last toothpick loses. There was some pattern that would guarentee that you always win, but I don’t remember what it was. Maybe a bit hard for 6 yr olds. The game is simple, the logic is hard. ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/5 "2004-08-17T21:38:40Z")
> [@CloudClever](#): > > A cruel stick game my Grade 12 math teacher taught us: > You lay down 20 toothpicks. You can take one or two toothpicks at a time (and your partner does the same, you alternate turns). Who ever takes the last toothpick loses. > > There was some pattern that would guarentee that you always win, but I don’t remember what it was. > > Maybe a bit hard for 6 yr olds. The game is simple, the logic is hard. Dude: Work backwards. If there are four toothpicks when its your turn, you lose. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/6 "2004-08-17T23:57:42Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Draw a square grid of dots (however large you like - 4x4 is good for practise runs). You join two dots with a line anywhere you like (horizontal or vertical, neighbors only). Then your opponent does the same, anywhere they like. If your line completes a square, you put your initial inside it and draw another line. Person with the most boxes at the end wins, obviously. I’ve actually played that one with my niece. She’s pretty good at it. Hell _she_ taught _me_ how to play it. ---
**Author:** ![CloudClever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@CloudClever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CloudClever)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/7 "2004-08-18T00:23:30Z")
> [@cj finn](#): > > Dude: Work backwards. If there are four toothpicks when its your turn, you lose. Then you have to make sure that you pick up the fifth one (from the end). You still have the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/8 "2004-08-18T02:25:54Z")
> [@CloudClever](#): > > Then you have to make sure that you pick up the fifth one (from the end). You still have the same problem. no, **cj finn** ’s right. Once you have your opponent on 3n+1 matches, you can keep 'em there (pick up 2 if they pick up one and vice versa) till n=0 and they lose. So player 1 can guarantee a win by picking up 1 match first. Might take a while for your 8 and 6 year olds to guess that tho’ :evilgrin: ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/9 "2004-08-18T16:42:59Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I wouldn’t call this a logic game (but then, I wouldn’t call tic-tac-toe a “logic-game”) but it is a simple chance-free strategy game - is that what you’re looking for? > > I don’t know what it’s called. > > Draw a square grid of dots (however large you like - 4x4 is good for practise runs). You join two dots with a line anywhere you like (horizontal or vertical, neighbors only). Then your opponent does the same, anywhere they like. If your line completes a square, you put your initial inside it and draw another line. Person with the most boxes at the end wins, obviously. > > Once they start beating you it’s time to check out the price of zimmer frames and retirement homes 😃 The game your thinking of is Boxes and it just happens to be one of the most complicated mathematical game in the world :D. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/10 "2004-08-18T16:52:41Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > The game your thinking of is Boxes and it just happens to be one of the most complicated mathematical game in the world :D. Here’s a version on Yahooligans if they want to practice on other kids. [http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/games/dots.htm](http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/games/dots.htm) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-simple-logic-games-to-test-children/260160/11 "2004-08-18T18:51:04Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > no, **cj finn** ’s right. Once you have your opponent on 3n+1 matches, you can keep 'em there (pick up 2 if they pick up one and vice versa) till n=0 and they lose. > > So player 1 can guarantee a win by picking up 1 match first. > > Might take a while for your 8 and 6 year olds to guess that tho’ :evilgrin: My daughter has never lost this game since she was 6 years old (and taught me about it). Of course she’s my princess so she alway gets to go first.