the easiest game of nim starts with no counters at all! in such a case, neither player can move. that is shown as , or 0). if instead right moves first, there will be no more moves for left. so both left and right can make a move to 0. that is shown as , or {0|0}. the first player to move will win. games equal to {0|0} are very important. they are written with the symbol, * (star).