Leetcode #810: Chalkboard XOR Game
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #810 Chalkboard XOR Game in Python and focus on the core idea that makes the solution efficient.
You will see the intuition, the step-by-step method, and a clean Python implementation you can use in interviews.
Problem Statement
You are given an array of integers nums represents the numbers written on a chalkboard. Alice and Bob take turns erasing exactly one number from the chalkboard, with Alice starting first.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Hard
- Premium: No
- Tags: Bit Manipulation, Brainteaser, Array, Math, Game Theory
Intuition
The problem structure lets us track state with bitwise operations.
Bit operations are constant time and avoid extra memory.
Approach
Apply XOR/AND/OR and shifts to maintain the required invariant.
Aggregate the result in a single pass.
Steps:
- Identify a bitwise invariant.
- Combine values with bit operations.
- Return the aggregated result.
Example
Input: nums = [1,1,2]
Output: false
Explanation:
Alice has two choices: erase 1 or erase 2.
If she erases 1, the nums array becomes [1, 2]. The bitwise XOR of all the elements of the chalkboard is 1 XOR 2 = 3. Now Bob can remove any element he wants, because Alice will be the one to erase the last element and she will lose.
If Alice erases 2 first, now nums become [1, 1]. The bitwise XOR of all the elements of the chalkboard is 1 XOR 1 = 0. Alice will lose.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def xorGame(self, nums: List[int]) -> bool:
return len(nums) % 2 == 0 or reduce(xor, nums) == 0
Complexity
The time complexity is , where is the length of the array . The space complexity is .
Edge Cases and Pitfalls
Watch for boundary values, empty inputs, and duplicate values where applicable. If the problem involves ordering or constraints, confirm the invariant is preserved at every step.
Summary
This Python solution focuses on the essential structure of the problem and keeps the implementation interview-friendly while meeting the constraints.