THE PLAYBOOK · SDYZ85
How to play Nim
Try Nim at your own pace and keep its objective in view. Remove the last counter on the board to win. Look at what changes after your first action. Treat the first round as a chance to learn the controls. Look at what changes after your first action.
A useful comparison
Compare the worked example with your own position. Use the reasoning, not an answer copied from a different board. Make the next step deliberately.
Your goal
Remove the last counter on the board to win. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Review the board or playing area as it changes.
Step by step
- Player 1 chooses a pile.
- Remove at least one counter, and up to all counters, from that pile.
- The next player chooses a pile and an amount.
- Continue until no counters remain.
Controls
Use the on-screen controls with a mouse or touch. Keep the playing area visible while using these controls. Make sure you are interacting with the game rather than the surrounding page.
A useful example
With heaps of 1, 2 and 3 counters, choose one heap and remove at least one counter from it. You cannot take from two heaps in the same turn. Apply the same reasoning to the position in your own round. Read the matching step again.
Watch out for this
Only one pile may be changed per turn. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. Before your first action, say what you are trying to achieve. Then compare the result with the goal.
Common questions
For a quick reminder, what is the goal of Nim?
The key detail is this: Remove the last counter on the board to win.
While reading the Guide, how do I control Nim?
Here is the relevant explanation: Use the on-screen controls with a mouse or touch.
For this browser game, what example helps explain Nim?
For clarity: With piles of 1 and 2, a move may empty one pile, but cannot remove one counter from both in the same turn.
For my first round, what should I watch out for in Nim?
Here is the relevant explanation: Only one pile may be changed per turn.
What format does Nim offer?
Keep this in mind: Play using the same-device two players mode shown on this page. Read the controls before starting a new round.
Before I begin, which play mode does Nim use?
The mode on this page is Same-device two players. Same-device play uses one screen; this game library does not provide internet matchmaking.
