Two players alternatively erase some 9 numbers from the sequence 1,2,...,101 until only two remain. The player that starts wins x−54 dollars from the player that plays second, x being the absolute value of the difference between the remaining two numbers.

Would you rather be the first or the second player?
Explain your decision by providing your strategy.

(In reply to re: Typo? by Steve Herman)

Oh, you're saying nine numbers at a time.  Sorry, my bad.

i.e. player 1 erases nine of the 101 numbers.  Player 2 erases 9 of the remaining 92 numbers.  Player 1 erases 9 of the remaining 83 numbers, etc.  Correct?

Player 1 erases 54 numbers.  Player 2 erases 45.

Posted by hoodat on 2017-05-24 14:06:07