21

SET UP

• 21 pawns (any object) in a pile or collection.

Number of Players

• 2 or more.

Objective

• To not pick up the last pawn.

Rules

• On your turn, you can pick up 1 or 2 pawns.

Player Variations

• With more players, you can use a higher starting number of pawns. 21 is only a suggested starting count for a few players.

History

• 21 is an ancient game used to determine who draws the last unit, ultimately who won\lost, or who owes the condition.

• My wife and I play 21 to determine, who makes the choice for dinner out?, or who decides what other game we will play next?

Game Theory / Game Dynamics

• 21 can be found on my Abstract Avalanche, The Sticks and Stones Series, and Head Game shelves.

• The simple beauty of this game is all it takes is 21 objects of any kind. Pawns could be coins, beans, shells, stones, or any objects, and no board is required. (No sale for you, Dr. Fiddlesticks)

• 21 is a game of foresight. At first the pawns are removed quickly, but at some point you want to consider just how many pawns are left.

• Ideally you want it to be your turn when there are only 3 pawns left. With only 3 pawns left, 2 could be removed and leave the remaining final pawn for the losing player to draw. But now you need to consider strategies to end up in that position AND the sequence, which assumes your opponent/s will do exactly as you predicted, and there in lies unpredictable twists and turns.

I hope you enjoy playing games,
as much as I have making them.