Re: There exists a Nim version that is a "draw" OS

From: David Kastrup (dak_at_gnu.org)
Date: 07/09/04 

Date: 10 Jul 2004 00:04:01 +0200

Archimedes Plutonium <a_plutonium@iw.net> writes:

> I am unsure of Nim rules and have never played the game. I remember
> only that it is about picking up some objects so that the loser has
> to pick up the last object. I forget whether the objects are in 3
> separate boxes and those have to be emptied separately. I vaguely
> remember a math formula placed on Nim game and this math formula
> showing why second player will always win in OS of Nim.
>
> But my technique would predict that a morphed game of Nim exists
> where the OS is a draw. This morphed game is every bit a game of
> VonNeumann gametheory just as regular Nim is. But the difference is
> that this morphed game of Nim is a ** draw in OS ** and not a sure
> win for second player.

How do you draw in a game where there is progress made in every move
and the last one to pick an object loses?

> I would be terribly surprized if no-one before me has found a Nim
> morph that is a draw in OS.

Well, you could start without any objects, so nobody can pick any.
It does not sound like a terribly exciting game, though. And there
are not many mistakes possible when choosing your strategy. 

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum

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