A Non-Terminating Game of Beggar-My-Neighbor

We demonstrate the existence of a non-terminating game of Beggar-My-Neighbor. We detail the method for constructing this game and identify a cyclical structure of 62 tricks that is reached by 30 distinct starting hands. We further present a short history of the search for this solution since the problem was posed, and a record of previously found longest terminating games. The existence of this non-terminating game provides a solution to a long-standing question which John H. Conway called an ‘anti-Hilbert problem.’

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Publication Details

Journal
American Mathematical Monthly
Published
2025-10-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/00029890.2025.2558484
Primary Topic
Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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A Non-Terminating Game of Beggar-My-Neighbor

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American Mathematical Monthly
Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
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A Non-Terminating Game of Beggar-My-Neighbor

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article en

Abstract

We demonstrate the existence of a non-terminating game of Beggar-My-Neighbor. We detail the method for constructing this game and identify a cyclical structure of 62 tricks that is reached by 30 distinct starting hands. We further present a short history of the search for this solution since the problem was posed, and a record of previously found longest terminating games. The existence of this non-terminating game provides a solution to a long-standing question which John H. Conway called an ‘anti-Hilbert problem.’

American Mathematical MonthlyVol. 132(10)
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Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
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