my game wont continue

im new to C++ and this is a practice i found in a book and im having an issue
the goal of the game is for the computer to hit 0 before the user by subtracting either 1 or 2 at a time
what it is supposed to do is take a number the user inputs and subtract either 1 or 2 from it
then allow the user to input a number and have the computer take that number from the total post it and then subtract another number

BUT it isnt accepting the users input for n to subtract from total what am i doing wrong

im really starting to doubt this book too lol

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  int total, n;
  cout << "Welcome to Hell. Wanna play?" << endl;
  cout << " Pick a number any number I can handle it." << endl;
  cin >> total;
  while(true) {
  if ((total % 3) == 2){
   total = total - 2;
   cout << "I'll take 2 whether you like it or not. =P" << endl;
   } else{
   total--;
   cout << " I'm taking one mo ........a." << endl;
   }
   cout << " Only " << total << "left. Can you even count that high?" << endl;
   if (total == 0) {
     cout << " HAHAHA I WIN I WIN I WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" << endl;
     break;
   
   }
   
   cout << "Pick a 1 or 2 I promise it doesn't matter though I'll still win  ";
   cin >> n;
   while (n < 1 || n > 2)
    cout << "Hey I thought I told you 1 or 2 try again numskull " << endl;
    cin >> n;
    total = total -n;
    cout << " Okay we are at" << total << " Good job you made me do the math for you now lets move on" << endl;
    if (total == 0) {
    cout << " Wow what a shocker you won. Good job you beat something that can't even think on its own" << endl;
    break;
    
    }
  system("PAUSE");    
  return 0;
}}

Fix your indentation and you will spot the problem. More specifically, it is not right to end two scopes on the same line.

Perfect indentation is not a luxury, it is essential; a top priority when writing code. It's not something you fixup just when you feel like it. A real programmer has it right always.

well i haven't been taught anything about indentation and this book doesn't mention it im starting from scratch with 0 prior knowledge im just trying to do things that kinda make it easyer for me to read

But BURST, Malc just gave you a good advice. Read up on indentation. It's a little bit like when you write text, you follow certain rules to make the text readable. (Then on top of that you've got grammar, spelling etc.)

For the OP to read: SourceForge.net: Indentation - cpwiki

Thank you i worked on the indentation and found it >.<
but now im also trying to make this same program start itself over if the user wants it too

something like

Code:

int again
while (again == y){
cout << "do you want to play again (y/n)" << endl
cin >> again;
}

but im not sure exactly how to put this into the code

this is what i have come up with but it doesnt work it asks for the first input to total then it just says press any key to continue what am i doing wrong?

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>

using namespace std;

int main(){

    int total, again, n1, y = 1, n = 2;
   
    cout << "Welcome to Hell. Wanna play?" << endl;
    cout << " Pick a number any number I can handle it." << endl;
    cin >> total;
while ( again == 1){  
    while (total < 1) {
    cout << " need a number greater then 0" << endl;
    cin >> total;
    }
    while(total > 0) {
        if ((total % 3) == 2){
                total = total - 2;
                cout << "I'll take 2 whether you like it or not. =P" << endl;
        } else {
                total--;
                cout << " I'm taking one mo ........a." << endl;
        }
        cout << " Only " << total << " left. Can you even count that high?" << endl;
        if (total == 0) {
                cout << " HAHAHA I WIN I WIN I WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" << endl;
                     break;
   
   }
   
   cout << "Pick a 1 or 2 I promise it doesn't matter though I'll still win  ";
   cin >> n1;
   while (n1 < 1 || n1 > 2){
    cout << "Hey I thought I told you 1 or 2 try again numskull " << endl;
    cin >> n1;
    }
    total = total - n1;
    cout << " Okay we are at " << total << " Good job you made me do the math for you now lets move on" << endl;
        if (total == 0) {
            cout << " Wow whats a shocker you won. Good job you beat something that can't even think on its own" << endl;
            break;
            }
        }
 cout << " wanna go again? y/n" <<endl;
 cin >> again; 
 }
  system ("PAUSE");    
  return 0;
}

got it to work thanks for all the help