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wining strategy on a table with 1999 red and black counters

Source: Mexican Mathematical Olympiad 1999 OMM P1

July 28, 2018
combinatoricsStrategygame

Problem Statement

On a table there are 19991999 counters, red on one side and black on the other side, arranged arbitrarily. Two people alternately make moves, where each move is of one of the following two types: (1) Remove several counters which all have the same color up; (2) Reverse several counters which all have the same color up. The player who takes the last counter wins. Decide which of the two players (the one playing first or the other one) has a wining strategy.