Magic Number

Level: Yr2 and above

Equipment: deck of cards, paper and pencil for each player to write your algorithms. 

Players: Any number

How to play:

1. To begin, turn over the top 2 or 3 cards and add them together to find the total. This is the magic number. The aim of the game is to be the first to make this number.  Let’s say we turn over 3 cards and the total is 15, so 15 is your magic number.
2. Player 1 turns over two cards and can add or subtract to try and make the magic number. If they turn over a 10 and 3 they would write 10+3=13 or 10-3=7. 
3. Player 2 then turns over two cards. If they turn over a 6 and 7 they could write 6+7=13 or 7-6=1. 
4. After this, each player takes it in turns to turn over one more card at a time. If player 1 turns over an 8 they can write 10+8-3=15.  Player 1 wins as they are the first to make the magic number.  You may have 5 cards out before you can make the magic number and you can use 2, 3, 4 or 5 cards to make the magic number.

Variations:-

1. a) Play only one round. The winner has the number closest to the magic number. (Easier)
2. b) Limit operation to only add or subtract (Easier)

        c) Use the operations of multiplication and division as well. Be aware of BODMAS (Harder