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Lesson 2: Strategy Games

15-20 minutes

What You Will Learn

In this lesson, you will:

Why Games Make You Smarter

Have you ever played a game where you had to think really hard before making a move? Games like that are called strategy games. In a strategy game, you do not just pick any move -- you think about what will happen NEXT. You try to plan ahead.

This is exactly what coders do! When a coder writes a program, they think: "If the user clicks this button, what should happen? And then what? And what if they click something else?" Playing strategy games trains your brain to think this way.

Game 1: Tic-Tac-Toe Strategy

More Than Just X's and O's

You probably know how to play tic-tac-toe. But did you know there are strategies that can help you win (or at least never lose)?

X
O
X
O

Tic-Tac-Toe Tips

  • Go first and take the center. The center square is the most powerful position because it connects to the most winning lines.
  • Take corners. Corners are the next best spots. If you have two corners, you can often set up a double trap.
  • Block your opponent. Always check: does your opponent have two in a row? If yes, block them before making your own move!
  • Set up a "fork." A fork is when you have two ways to win at the same time. Your opponent can only block one, so you win!

Activity: Play 5 Games

Play 5 games of tic-tac-toe with your parent. After each game, talk about these questions:

  • Did the person who went first have an advantage?
  • Did anyone set up a fork (two ways to win)?
  • What would have happened if you made a different move?

After 5 games, try to find out: is it possible for both players to play perfectly and always tie? (Hint: yes!)

Game 2: Thinking Like a Chess Player

Chess Ideas for Everyone

You do not need to know how to play chess to learn from it! Chess is the ultimate strategy game because it teaches one very important skill: thinking ahead.

Chess players do not just think about their next move. They think:

  1. "If I move here..." (what I want to do)
  2. "Then they might move there..." (what my opponent could do)
  3. "Then I could move here!" (what I would do next)

This is called thinking ahead or looking ahead. The best chess players can think 5, 10, or even 20 moves ahead!

Talk About It

You use thinking-ahead in everyday life too! Talk about these examples:

  • "If I do not do my homework now, then I will have to rush in the morning, then I might make mistakes."
  • "If I share my toy with my friend, then they will be happy, then they might share something with me later."
  • "If I eat all my candy now, then I will not have any tomorrow, then I will be sad."

Can you think of your own "if... then... then..." example?

Activity: The "What If" Game

Take turns coming up with "What if" scenarios and thinking through what would happen next. For example:

  • "What if it rained for a whole week without stopping?"
  • "What if dogs could talk?"
  • "What if you could fly for one hour every day?"

For each one, try to think of at least 3 things that would happen. This is practice for thinking ahead!

Game 3: The Nim Game

A Game with a Secret

Nim is an ancient game with a hidden winning strategy. Here is how to play:

Setup: Make 3 rows of objects (use coins, buttons, candies, or draw circles on paper):

Row 1:
Row 2:
Row 3:

Rules:

  • Players take turns.
  • On your turn, pick ONE row and remove as many objects from that row as you want (at least 1).
  • The person who takes the last object LOSES.

Activity: Play Nim!

Play at least 3 rounds of Nim. After each game, think about:

  • Did you have a strategy, or were you just guessing?
  • Is there a pattern to who wins?
  • What happens when there are only 2 objects left on your turn?
  • Can you figure out a strategy to win every time?

Hint: Try to leave your opponent with just 1 object in 1 row. Work backwards from there!

The Connection to Coding

Nim is a game that a computer can play perfectly -- because the winning strategy is based on patterns and logic. In fact, one of the first computer games ever made was a Nim-playing machine built in 1940! Computers are very good at games with clear rules and patterns, because that is exactly what code does best.

Game 4: Pattern Detective

A Quick Game for Any Time

Here is a simple game you can play anywhere. One person creates a secret pattern rule, and the other person has to figure it out!

How to play:

  1. Player 1 thinks of a secret rule. For example: "Numbers that are even" or "Words that start with B" or "Things you can eat."
  2. Player 1 gives 3 examples that follow the rule. For example: 2, 8, 14.
  3. Player 2 guesses things and asks "Does this follow the rule?"
  4. Player 1 says yes or no.
  5. Player 2 keeps guessing until they can figure out the rule!

Activity: Play 3 Rounds

Play 3 rounds, switching who makes the rule each time. Start with easy rules and make them harder!

Easy rules: Colors, animals, things that are round

Medium rules: Numbers bigger than 10, words with 4 letters

Hard rules: Things you find in a kitchen, numbers you can divide by 3

Key Takeaways

Ready for More?

Next Lesson

In Lesson 3, you will discover how coding thinking helps you in school and everyday life!

Start Lesson 3

Module Progress

You have finished Lesson 2! You are becoming a real strategic thinker.

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