Eventual period-two conjecture for impartial scoring subtraction games

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Let SS be a finite subtraction set, and let Gs(n)\mathcal{G}_s(n) denote the scoring value of the subtraction game at heap size nn. Write

k=max⁡{S}.k=\max\{S\}.

Eventual period-two conjecture. There exists an integer NN such that

Gs(n+2k)=Gs(n)\mathcal{G}_s(n+2k)=\mathcal{G}_s(n)

for all n≥Nn\geq N.

This conjecture asserts eventual periodicity with period 2k2k for every finite subtraction set. The surrounding discussion notes that subtraction-game functions are eventually periodic, but asks whether this specific period always occurs; the example with subtraction set {4,5}\{4,5\} motivates the need for such an eventual statement.

References

Primary source

Fraser Stewart, “Impartial Scoring Play Games”, arXiv:1202.4655 (2012).

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