Nim Game - Updated

import random
import time


# Function to print the sticks
def sticks(times):
    print("\nThere are " + str(times) + " sticks(s) left  ")
    print("!  " * times)


def thinking():
    print("Thinking", end=' ')
    for i in range(0, 5):
        print(' . ', end=' ')
        time.sleep(.5)


# 1 is always a legal move, unless we already lost
def nim_minimal():
    return 1


# Always return random number between 1 to 3
def nim_random(n):
    print('"nim_random" is ', end=' ')
    thinking()
    return random.randint(1, min(n, 3))

# Always return Nim Best , Win Win condition
def nim_best(n):
    nim_win = n % 4
    print('"nim_best" is ', end=' ')
    thinking()
    if nim_win == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        return nim_win


# Always Human
def nim_human(n):
    while True:  # get input until it's legal
        taken = int(input('\n"nim_human" Please choose 1,2 or 3 sticks only :  '))
        # sticks(n)
        if taken in range(1, min(n, 3) + 1):
            return taken
        print("Illegal move.")


# Players Pool
player_list = [nim_best, nim_minimal, nim_random, nim_human]
# transform into a dictionary with function name mapping to function
player_dict = {p.__name__: p for p in player_list}


# Function for player selection from the Players Pool
def player_slctn(plyr_num, plyr_dict):
    while True:
        player_name = input("Player - %d , Please choose (nim_best, nim_minimal, nim_random, nim_human) : " % plyr_num)
        if player_name in plyr_dict:
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid name!!! Please Try again \n")
    return plyr_dict[player_name]


# Up to 2 Players Selection
def players_selecttion(plyr_dict):
    players = []
    while len(players) < 2:
        players.append(player_slctn(len(players) + 1, plyr_dict))
    return players


# game Controller
def game_ctrlr():
    print(f"\n\t !!!  Nim Game Menu  !!!\n")
    heap_size = int(input("Enter the number of sticks:  "))
    players = players_selecttion(player_dict)
    while heap_size > 0:
        player = players[0]
        player_pick = player(heap_size)
        print('\n"' + player.__name__ + '" has choosen ' + str(player_pick) + ' sticks!')
        heap_size -= player_pick
        sticks(heap_size)
        players.reverse()
    print("Congratulation *** " + players[1].__name__ + " is **** WINNER ****  (◠‿◠ )")


# calling the Game Controller Function
game_ctrlr()