We recently unearthed a charming little vintage game from the 1970s - a small, neatly boxed set of tokens made to play the game of 'Nim' with, complete with colourful pegs and numbered holes. It’s a game many of us dimly recall from school maths lessons, but one that’s absolutely worth rediscovering. A clever, age-old strategy game, it’s also completely free to play with nothing more than a few marbles, coins, pebbles... you name it.
Often used to teach logic and binary numbers in mathematics, Nim is deceptively simple on the surface, but a true game of wits underneath. Here's how to play - and why you should give it a go.
What You Need to Play
You don’t need a fancy vintage set (though we do have one here if you're tempted). Just gather:
- 3 or more piles of objects (e.g., coins, marbles, matches, pegs, etc.)
- Any number of objects per pile (asymmetrical piles make it more interesting)
- 2 players
Basic Rules of Nim
- Set up 3 or more piles of objects. For example: 3 in one pile, 4 in another, and 5 in the third.
- Players take turns.
- On your turn, you may remove any number of objects from a single pile - but only one pile per turn.
- The player who takes the last object wins.
(There’s a variant where the person who takes the last object loses, called misère play - a great twist if you fancy it!)
A Bit of History
Nim's origins are obscure, but it’s known to be centuries old and was first formally described in 1901 by Charles Leonard Bouton, an American mathematician. His study of the game revealed the core of its strategy: the binary digital sum (also known as the nimber). Without getting too technical, it means there’s a mathematical formula behind whether a position is winning or losing - but you don’t need to worry too much about that to enjoy playing!
The Strategy (Lightly Explained)
For those curious about the logic...
- A player is in a winning position if they can force a win regardless of how the opponent plays.
- The trick lies in binary arithmetic, where you compare the number of objects in each pile using binary digits.
- If the bitwise XOR of all pile sizes is 0, you’re in a losing position - otherwise, you’re in the lead.
Still with us? It’s alright if not - the beauty of Nim is you can play and enjoy it while gradually noticing patterns and strategies emerge.
Why We Love It
- Portable: Take it anywhere. All you need are a few matchsticks or coins.
- Quick to learn, tough to master.
- Great for all ages, from children learning to count to adults trying to out-think each other.
- Perfect for cafés, classrooms, or rainy days.
Conclusion
Nim is one of those games that proves brilliance doesn’t require a big box or complicated rules. Whether you're a strategic thinker or just want a quick, satisfying diversion, this game’s timeless appeal is well worth a revisit.
Try it yourself - no fancy equipment required. And if you’d like a bit of nostalgia with your gameplay, our vintage 1970s Nim set is available here.