Going online to play games is enormous fun. But why not try some games that will also give your brain a Math workout at the same time? They are still great to play but can get that brain of yours working hard, too. Let’s take a look at some of the best brain games you can play.
Sudoku
Now, this is a game that can really get you thinking. The task in Sudoku is to place numbers into a grid but in a very special way. The numbers 1-9 must only appear once in each row or column and within 3 x 3 boxes. There are many different versions of the game that first appeared in Japanese papers in 1984.
There are various different levels of Sudoku. You can move up the different levels if your brain is in top form. It’s a great game to play but so frustrating at times. Working out just where each number can go is often a difficult task. That moment when you realize that one or more of the numbers is on the wrong box is a truly frustrating situation to find yourself in. However, just imagine how satisfied with yourself you will be when finally sorting the puzzle out and completing the grid.
Poker
Card games have an element of luck in them, but brainpower is required, too. Numbers and probability are a key part of this game, and you need to use all that brainpower of yours to ensure that you make the correct decisions.
Poker is just one of the many casino games that you can play. Make sure you find out as much as you can about the available sites if playing casino games online is something that you (and your brain) love doing.
This is a game where you need to be thinking all the time. If you get dealt two good cards, that’s great news. But even if you have a couple of aces, success on that hand is not guaranteed.
You must work out the probabilities of turning your hand into a better one as more cards are dealt. What are the chances you can make a straight or a flush? How likely is it your opponent has a pair? Then you must do a calculation about the size of the pot and whether it is worth your while putting your money in – these are called pot odds.
Get that brain of yours working to ensure you win the hand. However, you need to make sure that you win as much as you can from that good hand. Just making a big bet won’t work. Yes, you might win the hand but not a great deal of money. The other players will get the feeling that you have a great hand and decide to fold.
To be successful at poker, like the World Series of Poker champion, you need to put a lot of work in. Learn how to get the best out of a good hand and not let the other players know just how good it is. You could even try to get a win with a poor hand.
Learning how to bluff and working out just how good or bad your opponents’ hands is a key part of playing poker. You need to concentrate all the time; not doing so could lead to a costly mistake being made. That’s particularly the case if playing speed poker. That brain of yours needs to be in top form to assess the situation and decide what to do next quickly. It’s certainly true to say that after a long session of playing poker, your brain will know it’s had a good workout.
Monopoly
If you fancy being a property owner, then this is the game for you. It’s not just about going around and around a board; there’s a math workout here too. You need to make the correct decisions over which properties to buy to ensure success when others land on them.
It may only be a game that you play with your family and friends, but to others, it’s a lot more than that. Mathematicians Hannah Fry and Thomas Oléron Evans have actually spent time researching the game of Monopoly. Their aim was to work out which sets of properties can achieve the best results. They really put their brainpower to good use to produce graphs. You need a lot of brainpower just to work those out. Even so, it shows that Monopoly is a game that isn’t just about avoiding going to jail.
That’s just a flavor of the games that can give your brain a math workout. Even slot games fit into this category considering the often complex rules that are present. Whatever you do, just enjoy the games and remember that giving your brain a good math workout without having to spend hours in front of a textbook is always going to be a lot more enjoyable.
