THE PLAYBOOK · PLJTSS
How to play Nim
Nim gives you a focused activity to play in your browser. Remove the last counter on the board to win. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls. Begin with the same-device two players mode shown on the page. Look at what changes after your first action.
Focus on one rule
Choose one rule to keep in mind for this round. Apply it consistently rather than guessing what another version might allow. Keep the objective visible.
Your goal
Remove the last counter on the board to win. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Return to the instructions when a step is unclear.
Step by step
- Player 1 chooses a pile.
- Remove at least one counter, and up to all counters, from that pile.
- The next player chooses a pile and an amount.
- Continue until no counters remain.
Controls
Use the on-screen controls with a mouse or touch. On a smaller screen, keep the active part of the board within view. Contact us with the game and device if a control does not respond.
A useful example
With piles of 1 and 2, a move may empty one pile, but cannot remove one counter from both in the same turn. Your next round may have a different position, so inspect it before acting. Look for the relevant detail.
Watch out for this
Only one pile may be changed per turn. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. Take enough time to read a new position. If a game has a timer, learn its controls first rather than searching for them during the round.
Common questions
Before I begin, what is the goal of Nim?
The key detail is this: Remove the last counter on the board to win.
Before I begin, how do I control Nim?
Keep this in mind: Use the on-screen controls with a mouse or touch.
While learning, what example helps explain Nim?
The key detail is this: With piles of 1 and 2, a move may empty one pile, but cannot remove one counter from both in the same turn.
For a quick reminder, what should I watch out for in Nim?
For clarity: Only one pile may be changed per turn.
For a quick reminder, what format does Nim offer?
Keep this in mind: Play using the same-device two players mode shown on this page. Read the controls before starting a new round.
For this browser game, which play mode does Nim use?
The mode on this page is Same-device two players. Same-device play uses one screen; this game library does not provide internet matchmaking.