Math Arguments

The Bowling Pins Puzzle

Everyone older than ten knows that there is a way to play tic-tac-toe so that you can never lose. Any game that can be played to a draw unless someone makes a newbie's mistake, is boring once you know the secret.

Let's look at this game and see if you can find a strategy for it:




There are thirteen pins and the two players take turns bowling.When bowling, you can knock down any pin or two adjacent pins (but not two that are separated by a space) that you like. The loser knocks over the last pin.

The gnome has bowled first, knocking down #2. How do you best play this game so that you are guaranteed to win?

If you go first, what is your best play?