You and a friend play a game in which there are an odd number of rocks. You can take 1, 2 or 3 rocks on your turn (alternating turns with your opponent); when all rocks have been taken, the person who has taken an odd number of rocks is the winner.

If you are the first to go, what strategy should you use in order to have the best chance of winning?

 Here's the answer. First take 1...end your turn. Then take 2 on the rest of your turns. 1+2=3....+2=5....+2=7...+2=9...and so on...all of the solutions are odd numbers.

Posted by Liam on 2004-05-27 11:24:17