About Take the Sticks

Take the Sticks is the classic maths game Nim. There are 13 sticks. On your turn you take 1, 2 or 3. Whoever takes the last stick wins. It looks like luck, but there is a secret pattern — work it out and you can beat the clever computer every single time.

How to play

1. Tap 1, 2 or 3 to take that many sticks.
2. The computer takes its turn.
3. Take the last stick to win.

Tips

The secret: always leave the computer a multiple of 4 (12, 8 or 4). Whatever it takes, you can take enough to get back to the next multiple of 4.