A Game You Can Always Win

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The 100 game was created by the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson -- who you may know for writing Alice In Wonderland under the pen name Lewis Carroll.
Carroll’s Oxford students were amazed. On February 5, 1856 he wrote in his diary: “... the trick of counting alternately up to 100, neither putting on more than 10 to the last number named, astonished them not a little.”
The Universe in a Handkerchief: Lewis Carroll’s Mathematical Recreations, Games, Puzzles, and Word Plays, by Martin Gardiner
www.amazon.com/Universe-Handk...
The Diaries of Lewis Carroll Volume I
www.amazon.com/Diaries-Lewis-...
Arithmetical Croquet
www.mscs.mu.edu/~mikes/159/cro...
***********************************
Vsauce Links
Website: www.Vsauce.com
Twitter: / vsaucetwo
Facebook: / vsaucetwo
Hosted, Produced, And Edited by Kevin Lieber
Instagram: / kevlieber
Twitter: / kevinlieber
Website: kevinlieber.com
Research And Writing by Matthew Tabor
/ matthewktabor
Special Thanks Michael Stevens
/ vsauce
VFX By Eric Langlay
/ ericlanglay
Huge Thanks Paula Lieber
www.etsy.com/shop/Craftality
Select Music By Jake Chudnow: / jakechudnow

[@Vsauce2]

three curious bros

[@CouldBeSaladFingers]

Hey daddy x

[@Winterjas]

ask the other bros when they'll upload!!

[@raithfindlay9579]

A similar trick works with 21 dares. Follow the multiple of 4 and you will always win.

[@cyberdisarray9173]

kevin's toys

[@epicstimulus282]

Must be a new series!

[@tristanpowell85]

I tried this with a friend, and I kept saying "let me explain this to you" and he would say "no, no, I'll win eventually." Poor guy.

[@PikachuComments]

Lol lol lol!

[@leptonparticle238]

It's very simple tho, I've figured out how to win this game and all of it's different varieties when I was in elementary school. So it's easy to figure out the priciple by yourself.

[@thewayfayer3268]

@@leptonparticle238 ok bud

[@eduant.s8870]

Q00 likes

[@destroyerd8120]

Tristan Powell lol

[@NoahTheBoi]

When the teenager is alone in their room: "I guess I'll just... play with myself."

[@-wrsmith-2436]

@Dally :/ mainly teenagers though.... i should know

[@FrogsGD]

HUEHUE

[@TheSketchAlex]

420 likes...you are lit!

[@Lego_Bespin_Guard]

@@dumbmonkey1313 nah it mainly starts around 12 or 13 so it is a teen thing

[@xredrxses9543]

I thought that was well 😂

[@dcrafti]

This is basically what's described early on in the book "How to Cheat at Everything".

[@TheCoconutnutisabigbignut]

I wonder if there's something called how to cheat in my math test-

[@tartatuga1333]

Whoa! Everything? Can i do the cheat of blinding-teacher so i can cheat at the test?

[@arneshpal7702]

XD lol lmao! 😂

[@shsjjhsh]

hi

[@SmithNLesson]

Where do I get this at?

[@salmonpancakes7008]

1:32 "I win every time!" Yes you will if you keep playing against yourself

[@fal4thought]

😂

[@GoldfishEmpire]

That would also mean you would lose to yourself an equal number of times, thus always concluding in a draw.

[@Ltwpe]

Lol

[@solifa1]

@@GoldfishEmpire 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Rock-fi1cb]

bro doesnt get it...he could do it with someone else and still win

[@snowoffwhite7924]

Bold of you to assume I can do math quickly without making it look suspicious

[@kavya914]

saaame

[@XeroxDrip]

saaame

[@okuu.gaming]

*.*

[@circle4602]

@TypicalModerator is that a flex

[@PrathamSheth-lc4jp]

Its underrated comment (if it is original )

[@Aboredbulborb]

“I’m gonna play with myself” If I said that my dad would laugh

[@charadreemurr1569]

That doesn't sound very good... ha...ha...

[@mr.micris2498]

Or does he?🤓

[@user-ct6rk9zq6h]

I was already laughing

[@diemtrinh2804]

666 likes :o

[@user-ct6rk9zq6h]

@@diemtrinh2804 I see it

[@diamondmemer9754]

Me, who can't even win an argument with my shampoo bottles: it's showtime

[@i_ate_a_child7629]

This deserves more likes 😂😂

[@ngolokante7805]

Lmfao

[@randompotato8105]

LMFAO

[@joshuagraham3]

Play against the shampoo bottles

[@diamondmemer9754]

@@joshuagraham3 I did And I lost

[@lekatamur4451]

Me: plays with a friend Friend: begins with 1 Me: *quits*

[@rahootrau2544]

Not really. He just have to not know the strategy 😃

[@djdjbeje]

@@rahootrau2544 if he begins with 1, there's a 99% chance he watched this video

[@dailysacrificedoublee]

“Grab a friend” I’ve already lost… Edit: The amount of people offering to be my friend is actually wholesome. The amount of people that can relate is depressing. Edit 2: We should all get together and play Minecraft.

[@lancethegamer1024]

Lol

[@itegun6553]

:(

[@Skibiditoiletwillflyinmyplane]

creeprkillr11305 that's sad

[@atnarcticadys4739]

Hahahahahahhahahahahaha

[@user-ct6rk9zq6h]

Haha same

[@Sam-Pound]

How to always win a game: Step1: play with yourself Step2:enjoy :D

[@Sam-Pound]

@Saleh Habbab so ....

[@chimmychuck]

Bet get the lotion lol

[@Sam-Pound]

@@chimmychuck HAHAHAHA

[@Sam-Pound]

@@chimmychuck I meant against yourself

[@kristencgartner]

But you will also lose

[@coolno3806]

0:22 congratulations,you played yourself

[@Cole_Is_A_Mole]

There is already a game like this called 21 and I thought everyone knew about it. Whoever says "21" loses and you count by 1, 2 or 3. The trick is to go 2nd and play every 4th number (4, 8, 12, 16, 20,) so that your opponent says 21 and loses. Edit: as long as you can count, you can rid of anyone's suspicions by changing the evil number. If it was 22, you'd go first and say 1 If it was 23 you'd go first and say 2

[@s_k1303]

I don't get it

[@Aqib2]

Yes and another one where you count to 10. But we used to play with 25 people in school by being in a circle and people used to team up.

[@Aqib2]

@@s_k1303 It's some elimination game played with a group, if you say 21 you lose. Whoever doesn't say 21 wins. You always have to count up either in 1,2 or 3s. What's funny is you could just say 3 in a row and then the 7th person just says 19 and 20 and the 8th person is eliminated.

[@footyvalz-e]

Finally, an explanation on 21 dares

[@BestHitmanEver]

I got only one friend He also watched it

[@Neotox999]

This deserves more than 8 likes

[@carealoo744]

@@Neotox999 Your reply deserves more than 8 likes ;)

[@Neotox999]

carealoo744 good one haha

[@vadiks20032]

i got only one friend and i play with himself

[@caseybouquet]

I deserve more than 8 likes *wink *wink

[@antichrist8305]

You need: a friend Me: *cries*

[@elliedee75]

Hotel: Trivago

[@BrookeSingleton]

Well come on Antichrist, it's hard to be friends when you're literally called the great deceiver!

[@yoylejuice]

Aww...

[@liv4983]

Not even a friend....you can play with anyone

[@datechboi]

BRING IT ON

[@Tatsu4242]

I thought it was where you took their number and played the “mirrored” number where it starts mirroring from 5-6 so 1 and 10, 2 and 9, 3 and 8, and so on until its 5 and 6

[@kexinlittle5752]

Me struggling what are u saying since my math is very low*

[@nytefalgaming2363]

@@kexinlittle5752 he’s just saying the same thing but in a different way, 10+1=11 9+2=11 and so fourth mirrored and subtracting from 11 in this game is the same

[@inz4ni7y49]

0:04 I felt that everyone felt that

[@Thatguy-nh4by]

I’m a normal guy. I see matchsticks with numbers written below them in a thumbnail, I click.

[@Thatguy-nh4by]

Lucid199 Sure mate suit yourself

[@Carlos244]

Clorox Bleach please I also need some

[@aucore3634]

@@Thatguy-nh4by Uh... You're not a "normal guy": you're bleach... Sooooo...

[@momisherenow.6795]

He's THE BLEACH. The full house. The huge jug of memes. So many fun and true things to say, like the cube island getting the 3rd rune in 3-5 days.

[@lemonclorox5534]

Clorox Bleach hi brother

[@szhzs6121]

here's another game you can win every time: you: "pick a number" them: "45" you: "46, i win"

[@kitty_forest166]

Me lol

[@acranox777]

😂😂

[@zneo7226]

dummdumm muddmudd quick Maths 😂

[@mutsuhanma7807]

OK Charlie Zelenoff...

[@jav2766]

you: "pick a number" friend: "infinity" you: "infinity +2, i win"

[@yaskko5555]

“I win every time” Ye that’s bound to happen if you play against yourself

[@frankiev116]

“If I separate your moves by 11...I RULE THE WORLD!!! Or at least, this simple number game...gotta start somewhere” 😂😂😂😂😂You sounded so sad😂😂

[@MitchelD]

The struggles of writing on a whiteboard left handes.

[@prinshiahirwar5698]

I can relate.

[@leepicccboigamer5376]

Yup I'm left handed

[@kxngrxse1562]

u r so damn right

[@itz_lucky_ducky2724]

Yep..

[@patrycjapedzich7461]

O... I no see that becouse I'm left handed x"D

[@imanol7877]

I game you can always win *Math needed* Half the world can't win now

[@laurenmarsland7599]

ImanolDoesGaming bahahAHAHAHA TRUE

[@aymanashour3637]

Hell yeahhh

[@Ptoki1]

LOL

[@jasonstarrising]

ImanolDoesGaming Lol ikr

[@unknownerror9551]

Im kinda good at maths so i the ohter half

[@kinghightech3217]

everyone:"wow this is cool" Me:"wow that white board is so cool"

[@ihaveasmallobsessionwithha1238]

We have a whiteboard table in the collaborative learning area in my school

[@1kuzuki]

Complicated theory of “what if both players know the trick” Ok then we’ll just see how many times each one is gonna avoid the other from getting close to 100 and eventually one of them will win, it will be almost pure luck. The match stick one will not always work, so when they reach 5 matches say skeletor took 1 match, T took 1 match, then skeletor took 2 matches... T will loose

[@shail6878]

T will not take 1 match duh

[@user-iq7mk3gb9w]

Who goes first will win.

[@The-Lorax]

T will take 3 then

[@megasceptile422]

But if T takes out 3 matches then Skeletor is left with last match to lose .

[@ccbgaming6994]

Then you set different numbers and see who knows the generalized trick :)

[@TheFreakOnee]

Kevin's content is so underrated despite the fact that he's one of the hardest workers on the whole platform.

[@thomaskolb576]

He's the only one who uploads more than just 3 times a year

[@ymj4256]

Thomas Kolb 2 is not a good number

[@YahyaFalcon]

Kassadyn kinda reminds me of Xbox Ahoy except he isn't in a work filled hiatus right now.

[@RAGEAlanBun]

Absolutely nothing better than just kicking back and watching a Vsauce2 sesh.

[@ianofalltrades]

Agreed

[@iamsooriginal7239]

A game you can always win... Or can you? *Vsauce theme plays*

[@greatesterrboi408]

*thinking music starts playing*

[@Logan-dc1fv]

WRONG Vsauce 2 music plays

[@aigerakabane5813]

What if you say -0

[@darealrealrealjc4882]

A FILM BY JAKE ROPER

[@rice_and_nuggets]

HAH I FOUND A WAY TO LOSE

[@tonas3843]

The number game was introduced to me in a holiday trip. About 11 years ago. In a vehicle filled with strangers, people challenged me this game and I always lose, I was so frustrated that 9 years later, I had enough math knowledge to actually solve the way to always win by myself, which was this way, I was so proud. That's all my comment is, just wanted to share one of my only successful of something.

[@theguyfromyournotebookwhob2309]

Congrats

[@icyballerj5857]

Tick tac toe first to 2 in a row I go first tho

[@lexiu6036]

there are also variants where person who starts as a second player can win (in number game), for example: 3 - max numbers you can pick, 20 - last legal number games itself also becomes more interesting when more than 2 players are playing (person who is forced to go above 20 (or just next person after someone who played 20) loses) :]

[@itsabelle_arts]

*Sips tea while reading all of these comments saying they have no friends*

[@shiroyasha7324]

Replace mine with coffee

[@grizzlyowlbear3538]

Öh yes

[@therealdiamondcat3246]

Doing the exact same thing

[@allison-pq3qk]

The Weird Potato ;

[@acoolguy249]

Just here sipping my sweet tea.

[@gavroshtheswift9959]

To guarantee you’re never scammed by one of your friends in these games; always request to go first. If your friend refuses, you win without winning

[@omega5040]

I let them go first then adjust my numbers to get 12, then continue from there. Or to throw them off I adjust my number later in the game to say 67, then continue from there.

[@awesomeami2010]

@@omega5040 Even if you go second you can still just adjust your picks to the multiples of 11

[@imjustadude3468]

It shouldn't matter as long as you do not know the trick. If the friend realized this, he would just accept, go whenever asked, and play to his trick that you likely have not figured out. I liked where you were heading, but it's not quite foolproof.

[@ferddagamer1277]

You can win without going first with the method..

[@austinbryan6759]

What's cool with the numbered on that's different than the matchstick one is that it actually doesn't matter if you go first or not

[@brandonbombplays9304]

You can do this with tic tax toe, if you always go first. First, you go in the middle. Then, if they go into a corner space, you pick one which is one corner space away. For example, if they go top left, you can go bottom left or top right, and if they pick top right, you can go top left or bottom right. Then, they are forced to block you, since otherwise you can just win with the diagonal. Once they do this,you can just go 4 spaces clockwise from their original move, and you have 2 possible winning spaces, which they can only block one of. However, if they first go into a side middle space, you can go 2 spaces clockwise or counterclockwise and force the enemy to block your sideways winning condition. Then, you just go one below your previous move, and have 2 winning conditions.

[@andrewmoulton8019]

The best one on one challenge yet! Skelator vs Mr. T! Brilliant!

[@unsolicitedd]

If u forget the sequence... 1 12 23 34 45 56 67 78 89

[@alexanderpye8613]

Exactly, just keep bringing the number to a multiple of 11, plus 1.

[@trevpavey3505]

For?

[@arvid8734]

Omg thank u so much

[@steven4565]

My friend challenged me to this game and he forgot the sequence. He lost to me 21-0

[@repulv]

It’s just counting to 10 but not saying 10 see 123456789 And it’s 1223344556677889

[@Graduation7484]

One of my dad's friends played this game with me about 1 and a half years ago. I figured it out by slowing down. If you play it like 10 times you will. It is simple, but hard to find at first.

[@theffects9545]

Mirror: hi me it’s nice to see me am I ready to play Me: yes I am

[@nox9458]

Twist: The opponent decides to go first. "A game you always lose!"

[@PolrisTired]

Clever, but it turns out you can still win by doing the same strategy, and eventually you'll still leave them with 89 and win. I've tried it before

[@martii0120]

@@PolrisTired the opponent plays 1, what do you do then?

[@namenlos3679]

(You are A) B: 1 A: 4 (any number) =5 B: 9 =14 A: 9 (because it's just important to get the the 23, because 1, 12, 23 and so on) = 23 B: 7 =30 A: 4 (because 7+4=11) You can play with any numbers. Numbers between 1 and x. Then you have to play to x². And your goals isn't 11, but x+1. So with numbers from 1 to 16, you play to 256. After your 1, you have to add in your second turn the difference because the current progress and 17. (Sorry for my weird english lol)

[@martii0120]

@@namenlos3679 B:1 A: 3 B: 8 A: 1 B: 10 A: 5 B: 6 and so on. The opponent will 100% win if he plays 1 and if he knows the strategy. Yes, you can win if he doesn't do it on the first 1 or simply does not know it

[@alimuzz.]

Yall smart in this comments

[@Daliman13]

Me clicking on this video: "Oooh, I can screw with my friends with this." *requires you go first*

[@bobjoe2228]

technically, no. watch the whole video

[@huh968]

@@theAstarrr yeah but if you go first you can guarantee a win, whereas if you don't the friend can just turn it around on you

[@xetearVI]

@@theAstarrr I thought this game required the going first too but if you think abt it just get the following numbers that you said and you good to go.

[@ccbgaming6994]

For that game specifically. Take a game like reaching 20 and a max 4 per turn. You would actually want your opponent to start. This is because the optimal starting number is the remainder of goal# / (maxperturn +1) and here it is 0.

[@masudreza8346]

I have learned many things from your video. Thanks for your games. Keep going on.

[@lieutenantwoomy3146]

"I guess ill just play with myself." Clipped and saved

[@ny6846]

“..even those of us who use skeletor to explain math games” AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOU KEVIN

[@suicnez]

I'll get you He-man Nyahhhh!!!

[@mangocorpse8433]

5:56 that moment when you realize what you are doing in your life

[@davydamage1]

Nicely done ✅

[@FoxTheLord32]

i figured out what you did almost imeadatly, it really does work that well. what your doing is always getting it in sets of 11

[@ickodelight5551]

Why i cant play this game : 1. i dont have friends 2. i am bad at math 3. i dont remember anything

[@irenaveksler1935]

Hristo Georgiev you don't have friends and you can't do 11-whatever your ""friends"" number was even tho you don't have any also you can probably play this with a family member that hasn't watched the vid

[@atnarcticadys4739]

Hhaa

[@dvijtyagi]

Lol

[@hollie2107]

4: we are in lockdown

[@diamondrainbowbutterfly7558]

Write it down and play with ur family

[@julieragbeernmbr1fan]

Title: A Game You Can Always Win Me: Or can you?

[@iane7474]

@Liftsky its called 130 moon men

[@greilthelegendaryhero252]

My favorite version of this with days of the year. You can advance by month (January 1st to March 1st for example) or by day (March 1st to March 15th for example) but not both at the same turn. Winner gets December 31st. I believe the safe numbers are Jan 19th, Feb 20th, March 21st ect if I recall correctly.

[@grundgutigertv6170]

That effect at the beginning was great!

[@shorikito7201]

I Can't play this game Im bad at Math

[@thomasgarcia9637]

Im not, my favorite subject in school is math.

[@santaana5437]

My favorite is reading

[@corinth9140]

*lMaO mAtHs Is eAsY* just kidding im not one of those people

[@lcox1188]

I love math!

[@mads7687]

Use calculator.

[@princesslea7077]

Friend :lets play this game Other friend : ok Friend : i pick one first Other friend hhmm Friend your turn Other friend: im sorry to break it to you but ... Friend: what ? Other friend :i watched the video Friend : oh

[@Mike20321_]

Nooooooo

[@sz2yn]

@@Mike20321_ luckly i am from argentina, and i dont think my frieds see this kind of videos so i still can win

[@NotARevenant]

I watched Survivor Thailand and there was a challenge where teams had to draw 1-3 flags out of 21 while trying to take the last one. It made me think of this and I did the logic puzzle to figure out how to win 100% of the time.

[@tonyshinobi412]

you definitly rule the world in my mind...killah content bro thx for all your clips

[@GoldfishEmpire]

Vsauce2: Plays with match sticks Smokey the Bear:

[@linkthehero1234]

*A N G E R Y*

[@Mike20321_]

@@linkthehero1234 aH yeS, boll gats

[@strawberry-vi2eu]

I have a Smokey the bear sign near my house and it’s literally cursed

[@scipio5916]

I’ve been stuck in a vsauce videos loop for hours. I can’t get out, it’s all too interesting. Someone help.

[@TDAdoesminecraft]

Just like casual loop

[@lunaticnomad0]

Go watch Pink Guy Stfu

[@colinlaw3261]

still stuck???lol

[@c_sea1n]

he's still stuck

[@-CENSORED0-]

the house turned into years

[@QuartzChrysalis]

Match like puzzle sticks is a magical phrase that reminds me I used to play number games with explosives. The 20th century was wild.

[@christiankirby8092]

We had a puzzle in my seventh grade math class where it was something similar to this. We had two people who both took turns adding up to 3 to get a total of 20. Said 2 people were my teacher and a random student who volunteer'd. Whoever said 20 won. The general rule was if you kept it a multiple of 4 before passing it to your opponent you always won 100% of the time. Meaning going second gives you a 100% win rate as you cant get to 4 from 0 adding only up to 3. Example 1 being player 1 and same with 2 1. 3 2. 4 1. 6 2. 8 1. 11 2. 12 1. 15 2. 16 As you can see player 1 cant make any move here that wont give player 2 the win. Of course player 2 was guaranteed to win the game from the beginning as long as you remember the pattern. Player 1 can pick 17, 18, or 19 and still lose to player 2. Edit: maybe I should have watched the whole video first because he goes over this too but from 20 counting down...

[@kofukurose7409]

I saw this video last night and I studied the number game to win in every situation except the one that your opponent starts with 1 and knows the series. When I went to school I challenged my math teacher to play this game to end a bet we had. It turns out he figured out the pattern already while I was explaining the game to him. I lost but I also won every other match I had with the teachers and my friends leaving them confused on how I won every single time. I also figured out the mathmetical explanation it's a pattern which is 11n+1 (you get rid of the 1 first and then add 11 in total each time to reach 89 which is n=8 11x8+1=88+1=89) Well thank you for reading this long ass comment and don't forget to like the video and support this awesome channel 👍

[@normalthingamajig]

@DYLAN MCCAIN yesn't

[@mads7687]

I don't understand.. ; -;

[@cristis7907]

Kofuku Rose you actually don t need to be a math teacher to figure the pattern out , i did it when my friend was explaining the game to me and i am 13 ffs

[@blandcoffee7355]

@DYLAN MCCAIN there are no curse words

[@Veniz_]

You challenged your math teacher well... You sound like a math teacher

[@mr.macsek8457]

I have no friends, but I can play with my sleep paralysis demon lmao

[@Bxll_Bxll]

Sad life man

[@GenericCatboy]

Can I join? Please.

[@legacy-funhouse]

I think if you win then your sleep paralysis demon chokes you

[@hellopleychess3190]

if it is your turn, try to change the number of match sticks to (N+1)*x and make it your opponents turn if you can take 1, 2 or 3 (3 at maximum) N will be 3 try to get N+1 or 4, 8, or 12, or 16 or 20 or 24 or 28 or 32 or 36 or 40 or 44 or 48 or 52 or 56

[@c.j.machado6250]

You can use a similar concept, but in a game of "count to 20." each turn, a player counts up 1 to 3 numbers per turn. The one to say 20 wins. The way to always win the game is to have the other player go first. if they say 1, 2, or 3, like they should, you need to count JP to any multiple of 4. Resulting you with saying 4, 8, 12, and then 16. Once you say 16, there is no possible way for the other player to say 20. Thus, making you the winner.

[@greenestgoblin2717]

Him: "i guess I'll just play with myself" Me: *That did not sound right*

[@pxpsiperson]

Go away coronavirus

[@greenestgoblin2717]

@@pxpsiperson no im here to stay

[@crixs1531]

@@greenestgoblin2717 If we find the cure you cant stay here anymore

[@fal4thought]

??????

[@bigsloganza6861]

It sounds perfectly normal

[@thatoneguy9582]

“A game you can always win” “A game you can never win” the duality of man

[@someweirdstuff1256]

a game you can sometimes win

[@OQ0_2random]

@@someweirdstuff1256every single game ever

[@MisoSoup03]

1:30 I've been using this trick to win 21 dares for YEARS now 😂 ofc, it doesn't work for bonds of 11, I do it to bonds of 4, since you can only say 3 numbers at once and you _want_ to say 20

[@roboticgames2989]

i know a game called 21 its where who ever says 21 is out and you can say 1-3 numbers and if its a 1v1 then who ever starts will lose if the other person knows the strategy and its say multiples of 4 until you get to 16 then no matter what they do you can say 20 and win. and sometimes you can play with saying 1-4 or 1-5 numbers but just use this equation: x+1=y and x would be the amount of numbers you can say per turn and y is what multiple you need to get to each turn rill you get to a place where you can win cuz they cant say anything to save themselfs

[@bmcRN]

6:40 "...to make sure all his plays match up with the series" Heh. "match" up

[@zeppex9984]

Notifing you that you got 82 likes

[@levihott7157]

VSauce 2 is honestly so underrated the videos are so well done

[@zanti4132]

I can suggest a more interesting variation on this game. Start with a number, say 200, and take turns subtracting perfect squares until one player gets to zero and wins. For a sample game with 200, let's say the first player starts by subtracting 4 (a blunder), leaving 196. The second player can now take all 196 = 14^2, winning immediately. With the starting number of 200, the first player can win every time if he plays correctly, but, in fact, of the 14 first moves available to him, only one wins. On the other hand, if the starting number is 197, the first player has NO winning moves, and so the second player wins with correct play. As for how to work out a plan for perfect play, the key is to retroanalyze the game. When there is 1 left, the player on move wins, of course. When 2 is left, the player on move has only one play, to take 1, which leaves 1 and gives his opponent the win. 3 and 4 are wins for the player on move; however, 5 is a losing position, as the player on move must take 1 or 4, leaving either 4 or 1 for his opponent. Keep working backwards, and eventually you will have the 37 numbers between 1 and 200 for which the player on move loses with correct play. Memorize those 37 numbers, and when you play just make sure every move you make leaves your opponent with one of those 37 numbers. Easy... :)

[@zanti4132]

An update (because I think this is interesting): In the NIM variation described above, I mentioned there are 37 losing positions when the starting number is 200. The losing numbers break down as follows: Numbers ending in 2 or 7: 10 each Numbers ending in 0: 6 Numbers ending in 5: 5 Numbers ending in 4 or 9: 3 each Numbers ending in 3 or 8: 0 Numbers ending in 1 or 6: 0 I expected the losing numbers to be more or less randomly distributed, and this distribution didn't look all that random to me, especially considering how the numbers exactly 5 apart always have the same or nearly the same number of losing positions. I decided this is most likely a coincidence due to 37 being too small a sample size, but I was curious enough to reanalyze the game with a much bigger starting number. With a computer program to assist me, I found there are 578 losing position under 10,000. The breakdown is as follows: Numbers ending in 2: 148 Numbers ending in 7: 144 Numbers ending in 5: 105 Numbers ending in 0: 102 Numbers ending in 9: 34 Numbers ending in 4: 32 Numbers ending in 3: 7 Numbers ending in 8: 6 Numbers ending in 1: 0 Numbers ending in 6: 0 Like, wow... there is nothing random about this distribution. The numbers that are 5 apart still have very similar results, but I can't imagine how this game could produce a bias based on mod 5.

[@coconunut2013]

Keep the number of matches odd if you did the first turn and even if otherwise

[@KentoNishi]

The max a person can say is 10. To make each round consistent, calculate the number of numbers to count. 10+1=11, 11 per round. To get 100 you need them to say 99. 99%11=1 Say 1, then count up at the complement of 11. *Thus, each "round" the numbers add up to 11.* This formula works with any numbers. I remember this because I calculated it on my own, and trolled everyone in class. *This is what 8th graders with no friends do in free time.*

[@lesliechrum6823]

Kento Nishi same

[@tushannarya8870]

Kento Nishi you do realise this is exactly what he explains in the video

[@muriloaugusto8559]

Kento Nishi I didn’t understand

[@Eternap]

+Top is life i was going to comment same thing

[@calandr4]

As an 8th grader with no friends I approve this.

[@totallynotgill5155]

I can't win because I have no friends :)

[@mytasteinmusicisyourface3020]

Play against you

[@subscriberWithoutVideosC-lz2ee]

Aww I can be your friend:>

[@okAbbi]

I'll be your friend😊

[@loofsmaj]

I can be your friend

[@vastfuldreams605]

I will be your friend

[@axolotl4044]

Also, there is another game that doesnt require matches where you and someone else take turns saying 1-3 numbers every turn until you reach ten, the person that says ten loses Example Me:1 Other man: 2,3,4 Me: 5,6 and so on This one is easier to win just say: one Then your friend must say 2-4 and you get 5 and you win.

[@Microster]

0:22 he knew what he was doing

[@Kami_26]

Me too, what he meant.pkay with myself 🤣

[@JustinY.]

I'm still waiting for top ten spit facts Vsauce

[@NotShola]

Why tf are you everywhere? 😂

[@idirisahmed1584]

Justin Z. Who the hell are you and WHY ARE YOU EVERYWHERE, your on all genres, even on grinning anime opening vids (ahem ahem all Tokyo ghoul openings)

[@matheusjezini]

This aint no Matthew Santoro

[@marimaycry]

Why do so many people impersonate this guy

[@thechannelofeandmx4784]

Creator: *releases video* *WILD JUSTIN.Y APPEARS!!*

[@TaiStar42]

NIM is WIN upside-down

[@Architector_4]

iNIM !

[@AlSmaq]

uh that depends which axis you're rotating on

[@Architector_4]

+AlSmaq I'll just drop this GIF instead of choking on own words: gyazo.com/54a4259cd8cebbb1e190f5ce078199d3

[@DDG98]

Architector #4 n

[@casoozh]

rotated 180 degrees*

[@imlocksaw]

If only i could do maths in my head

[@jaspervermeer659]

This is one of those things where I'd rather play it completely randomly but can't resist employing this strategy to win

[@IzukuMidoriya-tl8ie]

*~me when I play with my friends~* “1” “2””3””4””5........” etc.

[@imaginebeingapngtuber3124]

hi izuku

[@PUCCl_]

Izuku is terrible, hes like pichu. He harms himself while fighting

[@tf2doom]

So?

[@milanek1527]

Izuru

[@Moon-yq5yf]

Why is there always either an afton or an mha character in a video I watch XD

[@jacobmeade1045]

I tried it and lost.

[@Looooren]

can't even win a game that is impossible to lose, that's sad

[@FlyfishermanMike]

Then you're terrible at math!

[@suwinkhamchaiwong8382]

1.you start 1 2.they say a 3.the formula is 11 - a = b 4.you say b 5. Repeat from step 2

[@Meme.Machine]

The absolute state of american "" education ""

[@BlackMesaEmployee]

CIER what no that’s basic algebra

[@foxclawz9722]

The second one is like durochy a game where you can remove 1 or 2 from the total make a piramid with 5 layers one more in each tear starting with one piece if you remove the last piece you win you can play with more layers but you have to at least have 5 layers there is multiple strategies

[@milkak6823]

We played that match game in school once and I early on realized that there was a pattern to leave the other person with 5 matches. And then I managed to win every round.

[@darrellwillis4871]

@1:38 I was kind of expected to hear "I'll win every time because I'm playing against myself". I'm get some serious Yu-Gi-Oh season 0 vibes from Nim-like games though.

[@cyronara2344]

I already have a game I never lose Smash bros against my brother

[@chriiis7002]

Zhyper your pfp is me when i hear someone want to play smash with me

[@rafaeldias8987]

I'm really worried whether this is literal or the game....

[@aden4431]

@@rafaeldias8987 why’d you think it would be that way, obviously not the game! That’s disgusting!

[@parasalahat871]

ToxicMatter Same

[@JamieThePhrog]

Lmao

[@notanutshell2143]

*me who looses every game I play*: I’m listening

[@Beybread]

There is a version of the game called 21 dares which is the same priciple which used to be very popular in the 2018s

[@bigbosscheese60]

3:18 i always knew the Vsauce guys were evil.

[@sannavunk4029]

@The Wither Empire same

[@rurall]

*i rule the world*

[@ayyyblyat6229]

I cant count so i cant win

[@pranavkekunnaya07]

I actually thought of this when my mom taught me this game

[@TheGamer-hd4ef]

If a human interprets "0 or 1" the outcome can be an option among two options either 0 or 1. If a casual computer is given the same task the outcome would very likely be 1. Therefore the game rule pick "1 or 2 or 3" matches can be interpreted differently depending on the player's logic where each logic is equally logical and consistent. I am assuming that the outcome of that matches box game still depends on logics... :)

[@getout6603]

In the beginning i just thought of... If your opponent said either 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Your number should be 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 respectively.....so you can skip subtracting to 11 Just put into mind that 1 is to 10 2 is to 9...and so on

[@jasmineliferider3744]

Thank you so much

[@adam102803]

Cool

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

Solution to the puzzle at the end: Pull the up-pointing match a tiny ways up. The wood-ends of the matches make a tiny square in the center.

[@9nikolai]

I love how you watched long enough to see the puzzle, but you didn't watch long enough to see him solve it :P

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

...Well I certainly have egg on my face. I just assumed that he wasn't going to show the solution, to encourage us to figure it out for ourselves.

[@rmsgrey]

Or move the rightmost one to run vertically upwards from the leftmost point of the left match to give the numeral 4 7-segment style.

[@mattmills7867]

It makes 2 squares though. 1. At Z=0 2. At Z=width of match stick

[@mikeyhartinger53]

I actually didn't catch what he meant at the end so I appreciate it lol

[@xolohalokaq2730]

does works with every number just the starting number has to be changed

[@drwillfulneglect]

tl;dr digit game always make your numbers' digits have the 2 digits(ill say n for tens digit and x for ones) use this formula x=n+1 so examples are : 23 34 45 56 etc matches game: leave your opponent with (multiple of 4) + 1

[@there.are-no.handlesAVAILABLE.]

I rlly love how he explains why we would win

[@kartikpatil8462]

3:11 the way he says 100 sounds like chris griffin from family guy

[@Eli_G]

Good call

[@konsti_art]

Thanks, now I can't unhear it anymore.

[@BikeinArvikacom]

Peter Griffin

[@seabassjames8222]

I remember making a program in one of my programming classes for an AI that plays a game where you take 1, 2, or 3 stones from a basket until the basket is empty, and it seems like a similar concept.

[@Williamslamaeiland]

5:13 where i grew up (netherlands) we called this game: Dennis begint, Dennis wint (Dennis starts, Dennis wins)

[@pokemonprofessor8018]

But you can always win all games you just have to be perfect

[@clayman0430]

but what if your friend is doing the same thing? will you both win?

[@pinguin1009]

you need to start

[@BigDBrian]

if both players are playing optimally, the winner will be decided by whoever starts.

[@rmsgrey]

There are variants where the second player will always win (if both players know what they're doing) - for example, if you're trying to be the one to get the total to 99 (or avoid being the one to get the total to 100). But it's still determined by who starts - or who is the last player to make a mistake.

[@BigDBrian]

that's why I was careful with my words ;) "The winner will be decided by whoever starts" does not imply that the one who starts is the winner. Just that it's determined based on who starts.

[@rmsgrey]

I was carefully not disagreeing with you with my words :)

[@contaminating]

6:06 theres a bug @ mr T's left leg lmao

[@Kobstar]

The hand is so well positioned

[@lunarsprinkle6580]

I don't see it 😕

[@nourganouni]

@@lunarsprinkle6580 me neither 😕

[@michaelg.294]

"I PITY THE FOOL!- accordingly." Priceless!!!

[@nic_enc_old]

I was playing Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey just now, and an npc wanted to play a game with me which is basically the matchstick one with 30. My first thought was "okay what was that Vsauce2 video". Thank you for helping me prove my superiority to an npc in a videogame!