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9/3
9/2
7 THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 1972
251ST DAY - 115 DAYS TO COME

Rcd. [received] NOSTALGIA #149. Nothing of particular interest to me. Rcd. a package with 2 copies of SUMMIT from M.B. [Milton Bradley]

Phil Orbanes called. Simulations is interested in stiff board for their games. He remembered the "jigsaw" board for CREDIBILITY GAP and asked to look at it. Told him I'd bring it tomorrow (took it from my spare copy).

He was also interested in FUTURE. Told him that it was too heavy to lug around. But I'll bring the rules with me.

Called Eve Auchincloss to check on whether they'll want another BOOK WORLD column. Not in. Possibly she'll call me tomorrow.

Made 120 markers to use with VIMGO.

Arthur called to wish us a "Happy New Year" and to find out what happened yesterday after Wald left.

Martin Gardner here in the afternoon, bringing along John Harton Conway. Martin showed conway NINE OF SWORDS and he liked it. Gave him a copy and he said he'd check whether the solution was unique. Later there was a discussion of the Book that Conway was doing with two other people. I said I'd like a copy in return. He said it's a bum deal, since the book will probably never be completed. {J.H. Conway Cains College Cambridge England (Permanent address) {Dept. of Pure Math & Math Statistics 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge England (Quicker)

Conway told me about his game - SYLVER COINAGE. 2 play and name numbers alternately. Can't name a number that can be made by adding number previously [illegible word crossed out] named, taking numbers any number of times. "He who names 1 loses" (?) He gave me some info on winning starting numbers - etc. Didn't understand much of it.

Gave Martin back the letters on PINCH and on NAMELESS (NL) that I borrowed on 12/6/71. (I have reproductions.)

Martin loaned me three more letters from readers - FEZ, MEANDER (which can be played with pieces from AMOEBA), and a GAME without a name (played on triangular spaces). Martin also gave me a program for playing PATTERNS II developed at the University of Kansas.

They talked about variations of TIC-TAC-TOE where on player tries to acheive [achieve] a straight line, the other to avoid it. On a 3x3 field the avoider acheiver [achiever] can force a win. On a 4x4 whoever goes first can. On 5x5 or larger the avoider can. One further rule - either player can put in either an X or an O on each turn.

Conway is thinking of preparing a PUZZLE for Tom Atwater to try and market! There are a number of squares which fit together in jigsaw fashion with either a male or female fit (cont. on 9/3)