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Problem of the Week
Problem D
Just My Three Cents

In Canada, pennies are \(1\) cent coins that were used up until \(2012\). Adeline and Bai are playing a game using three pennies and a game board consisting of a row of \(8\) squares. To start the game, the pennies are placed in the three leftmost squares, as shown.

One coin is in the leftmost square on the board. A second coin is in the next square to the right, and a third coin is in the next square again to the right. All other squares are empty.

The rules of the game are as follows:

Adeline knows that if she goes first she can always win the game, regardless of where Bai moves the pennies on her turns. Describe Adeline’s first move and her winning strategy.