Strategy

One article per game: the proven result, the reasoning behind it, and how to play it at the board. Each opens with a free preview.

01 — Tic-tac-toeDraw.

Tic-Tac-Toe Is a Draw, and Here Is How Never to Lose
The eight-rule order a perfect player follows, and the right answer to every opening move.
02 — Connect FourFirst player wins.

Connect Four: The First Player Wins From the Middle
How Connect Four was solved, why the center column decides it, and the odd-and-even threat rule that wins real games.
03 — NimOne formula.

Nim: The Game With a One-Line Answer
Bouton's nim-sum finds the winning move from any position in seconds, plus the one change you need for the misère version.
04 — QuartoDraw.

Quarto: A Draw, If You Never Hand Over the Wrong Piece
Why Quarto is a draw with perfect play, how to count safe pieces, and the giving traps that decide real games.