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Can you find the winning move before a game begins?

Seventeen counters, two players, and a choice of taking one, two, or three on each turn: the player who takes the last counter wins. The opening move looks flexible, but thinking about the final few counters can reveal a pattern all the way back to the start.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • Which positions would you want to leave your opponent?
  • How would the strategy change if taking the last counter made you lose?

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A knockout bracket may look complicated, especially when someone gets a bye. In a completed two-player single-elimination tournament with one loser per match, each played match removes one entrant until only the winner remains.

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Can you find the winning move before a game begins? | Speech Topic | speaking.app