The Mathematician’s Duel
The first game ever played by a computer — NIMROD, Festival of Britain, 1951

TAKE STICKS

Four rows of matchsticks. On your turn, take as many sticks as you like — but all from the same row.

THE LAST STICK

In Misère (the classic pub rule), whoever takes the LAST stick loses. In Normal mode, whoever takes the last stick wins. NIMROD plays perfectly — if you let it.

Rule
Opponent
Wins: 0
Losses: 0
Games: 0
NIM
Out-think the machine that never miscounts.
Misère: last stick loses · Casual
You
16 sticks left
NIMROD
1
2
3
4

Your turn. Pick sticks from one row.

HOW TO PLAY
Nim — the mathematical strategy classic

TAKING STICKS

The board holds four rows of 1, 3, 5 and 7 matchsticks. On your turn, click a stick to grab it and everything to its right in that row, then press Take. You must take at least one stick, and only ever from a single row.

WINNING

Misère rule (the classic): the player forced to take the LAST stick loses. Normal rule: the player who takes the last stick wins. Pick the rule on the start screen.

THE MATH

Nim was solved in 1901: a position is losing when the binary XOR of the row sizes is zero. NIMROD difficulty plays that strategy without mistakes — from a balanced start the machine cannot be beaten if it moves second. Casual difficulty makes human mistakes.

NIMROD

In 1951 the Festival of Britain exhibited NIMROD, the first computer built purely to play a game — this one. It beat almost everyone, including a famous match against the British press. Our NIMROD honors it.

YOU WIN
You out-counted the counting machine.
0
Wins
0
Losses
0
Games
Arcadia Games

MAIN MENU

HomeCompetitionsJackpotsRoomsCreate RoomMy RoomPlayersLeaderboard
All Games

PvP Games

BattleshipBattleshipCrazy EightsCrazy EightsDots & Boxes BlitzDots & Boxes BlitzGomokuGomokuLudoLudoSnakes & LaddersSnakes & LaddersYahtzeeYahtzee

Free Games

AlquerqueAlquerqueBackgammonBackgammonBagh-ChalBagh-ChalBalutBalutBattle for TokyoBattle for TokyoBattleshipBattleshipBingoBingoBridgeBridgeBuncoBuncoCheckersCheckersChessChessChompChompCrazy EightsCrazy EightsCribbageCribbageDaraDaraDerby DashDerby DashDominoesDominoesDots & Boxes BlitzDots & Boxes BlitzDurakDurakFanoronaFanoronaFarkleFarkleFox and HoundsFox and HoundsGeneralaGeneralaGo / WeiqiGo / WeiqiGomokuGomokuHazardHazardHexHexHigher LowerHigher or LowerHnefataflHnefataflHounds and JackalsHounds and JackalsIndian RummyIndian RummyLudus LatrunculorumLudus LatrunculorumLiar's DiceLiar's DiceLudoLudoMahjong SolitaireMahjong SolitaireMancalaMancalaNimNimNine Men's MorrisNine Men's MorrisOnitamaOnitamaPatolliPatolliPeg SolitairePeg SolitairePentagoPentagoPentePentePig DicePigPylosPylosQuoridorQuoridorReversiReversiRoyal Game of UrRoyal Game of UrScratch CardsScratch CardsSeegaSeegaSenetSenetShip, Captain, CrewShip, Captain, CrewShut the BoxShut the BoxSnakeSnakeSnakes & LaddersSnakes & LaddersSpace BlasterSpace BlasterSpadesSpadesSugar PopSugar PopTile RummyTile RummyTowerTowerTrucoTrucoWarWarWord SpyWord SpyXII ScriptaXII ScriptaYahtzeeYahtzee

NEED HELP?

Live Support