Here is the reverse game where the object is to flip the initial numbers in a random sequence of 1..9 repeatedly until they are in order.
import random
numbers = random.sample(range(1,10), 9)
steps = 0
while numbers != sorted(numbers):
print " ".join(map(str, numbers))
nflip = int(raw_input("Flip how many? "))
numbers[:nflip] = reversed(numbers[:nflip])
steps += 1
print "Finished in %d steps." % steps
""" sample run...
In [6]: run finished/game.py
2 3 4 5 9 7 6 1 8
Flip how many? 4
5 4 3 2 9 7 6 1 8
Flip how many? 6
7 9 2 3 4 5 6 1 8
Flip how many? 8
1 6 5 4 3 2 9 7 8
Flip how many? 5
3 4 5 6 1 2 9 7 8
Flip how many? 7
9 2 1 6 5 4 3 7 8
Flip how many? 9
8 7 3 4 5 6 1 2 9
Flip how many? 8
2 1 6 5 4 3 7 8 9
Flip how many? 3
6 1 2 5 4 3 7 8 9
Flip how many? 6
3 4 5 2 1 6 7 8 9
Flip how many? 3
5 4 3 2 1 6 7 8 9
Flip how many? 5
Finished in 11 steps.
"""
