Problem

Source: 43rd International Tournament of Towns, Junior A-Level P4, Fall 2021 & Kvant Magazine No. 11-12 2021 M2679

Tags: game, combinatorics, Tournament of Towns, Kvant



The number 7 is written on a board. Alice and Bob in turn (Alice begins) write an additional digit in the number on the board: it is allowed to write the digit at the beginning (provided the digit is nonzero), between any two digits or at the end. If after someone’s turn the number on the board is a perfect square then this person wins. Is it possible for a player to guarantee the win? Alexandr Gribalko