Dodgem 1972

Dodgem is a simple abstract strategy game invented by Colin Vout and described in the book Winning Ways for Your Mathematical Plays. It is played on an n×n board with n-1 cars for each player—two cars each on a 3×3 board is enough for an interesting game, but larger sizes are also possible.

The board is initially set up with n-1 blue cars along the left edge and n-1 red cars along the bottom edge, the bottom left square remaining empty. Turns alternate: player 1 ("Left")'s turn is to move any one of the blue cars one space forwards (right) or sideways (up or down). Player 2 ("Right")'s turn is to move any one of the red cars one space forwards (up) or sideways (left or right).

Cars may not move onto occupied spaces. They may leave the board, but only by a forward move. A car which leaves the board is out of the game.

The winner is the player who first has no legal move on their turn because all their cars are either off the board or blocked in by their opponent.

[From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodgem]