Normal play convention explained

A normal play convention in a game is the method of determining the winner that is generally regarded as standard. For example:

• Preventing the other player from being able to move
• Being the first player to achieve a target
• Holding the highest value hand
• Taking the most card tricks

In combinatorial game theory, the normal play convention of an impartial game is that the last player able to move is the winner. ^[1]

By contrast "misère games" involve upsetting the convention and declaring a winner the individual who would normally be considered the loser.

Notes and References

1. https://brilliant.org/wiki/combinatorial-games-definition/