Add or Take 9

"Add or Take 9" is an engaging educational game designed to help learners practice addition and subtraction by manipulating the number 9. To participate in this game, players require a few simple materials: a 0-9 dice, a 1-100 board, and some counters to mark their positions. The objective is straightforward – players take turns rolling the dice to generate a two-digit number and then decide whether to add 9 to this number or subtract 9 from it. The result of their calculation is then marked on the 1-100 board using a counter.

The game is won by the first player who successfully aligns three of their counters in a straight line, which can be achieved horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, much like the classic game of noughts and crosses. To aid in mental arithmetic, a helpful strategy is suggested: when adding 9, consider adding 10 and then subtracting 1 for simplicity; similarly, when subtracting 9, subtract 10 and then add 1 back. Players are also encouraged to pay attention to the spatial relationship between numbers on the board, which can assist in making strategic decisions during the game. This fun and interactive game not only reinforces basic arithmetic skills but also promotes strategic thinking and number sense.