There are two 14th century manuscripts which show a game called Club Kayles and which depict a skittles game well established in England by the 14th Century. The game of Kayles (derived from the French "quilles" meaning skittles) where players threw sticks or cudgels at a line of pins appears to have been a popular pastime by that time. Indeed it was seen by the authorities under Edward III as a distraction to good order and religious activities and they sought to ban the game by including it on a list of condemned amusements. Our version is a more abstract table version of the game!
Equipment:
A number of counters to represent the skittles or pins. A single row of squares to place the counters on can be helpful though not necessary.
Number of players:
2
The Set-up:
Players decide how many counters (skittles) they will play with and arrange these in a row. Here is a typical set-up:
A Move:
At your turn you are allowed to remove (knock over) one counter (skittle) or a pair of counters (skittles) that are in adjoining squares.
A Win:
If your opponent has no legal move, in other words you were able to remove (knock over) the last remaining one or two counters (skittles), then you win.
Notes:
You might like to investigate this game for small numbers of counters to find out whether the 1st player can always win (assuming she plays her best moves). For example:
2 counters: The 1st player removes both counters and wins.
3 counters: If the 1st player removes either one or two counters from the end of the row then the 2nd player can remove the remaining counter(s) and win. So in this case the best move for the 1st player is to remove the middle counter forcing the 2nd player to remove one end counter. This allows the 1st player to win by removing the last counter.
4 counters: ?? Can the 1st player force a win??
Variations:
Dawson's Kayles: The only legal move is to remove two adjacent counters.
Double Kayles: Remove up to 4 counters at your turn. Counters again must be in adjoining sqaures.
Links:
Play Kayles against the Computer with this Kayles Java Applet created by Martin J. Chlond.
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