Luck, Skill or Cheating?
Poll
 | 1 vote (12.5%) | ||
| | 4 votes (50%) | ||
| | 3 votes (37.5%) |
8 members have voted
April 30th, 2015 at 8:04:40 PM
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At a poker table in the back of a social club not far from the banks of the Missouri sit Lucky Lil, Spider John, Snake and Mickey. Lucky Lil says, "Boys, I’m done playing for the night, but I’ll let one of you treat me to diner." Lucky Lil spreads these cards on the table, face up:
9S, QS, KS, TH, JH, QD, AD, 9C, JC, AC
Lucky Lil continues, "I kissed the back of one and only one of the cards, the first one to turn it over wins. Because I’m so fond of you boys I’ll give each of you an advantage. Spider, I’ll tell you the suit of the winning card." She leans over and whispers in Spider John’s ear. "Snake, I’ll tell you the rank." Lil whispers in Snake’s ear. "Mickey, you’re so damn lucky I’m just going to let you pick first."
Snake’s face contorts into something like the smile a rattler would show a mouse appetizer. Spider John says, "I don’t know why you’re grinning Snake. You don’t know the exact card."
Snake says, "Well I didn’t, but now I do."
Spider John retorts, "Well, then I do, too."
Mickey turns over the card with Lucky Lil’s flaming red lip prints on the back and says, "You boys can cry over the strip steak at the diner, Lil and I will be having Champaign and ribeye at the steakhouse."
Vote for how Mickey picked the winning card. Cheating of any sort is not the correct answer, but anyone fixing to whine about no "I’m a bigot" selection can vote that choice along with those who don’t read the entire post. If you vote for skill a spoiler with an explanation would be in order.
9S, QS, KS, TH, JH, QD, AD, 9C, JC, AC
Lucky Lil continues, "I kissed the back of one and only one of the cards, the first one to turn it over wins. Because I’m so fond of you boys I’ll give each of you an advantage. Spider, I’ll tell you the suit of the winning card." She leans over and whispers in Spider John’s ear. "Snake, I’ll tell you the rank." Lil whispers in Snake’s ear. "Mickey, you’re so damn lucky I’m just going to let you pick first."
Snake’s face contorts into something like the smile a rattler would show a mouse appetizer. Spider John says, "I don’t know why you’re grinning Snake. You don’t know the exact card."
Snake says, "Well I didn’t, but now I do."
Spider John retorts, "Well, then I do, too."
Mickey turns over the card with Lucky Lil’s flaming red lip prints on the back and says, "You boys can cry over the strip steak at the diner, Lil and I will be having Champaign and ribeye at the steakhouse."
Vote for how Mickey picked the winning card. Cheating of any sort is not the correct answer, but anyone fixing to whine about no "I’m a bigot" selection can vote that choice along with those who don’t read the entire post. If you vote for skill a spoiler with an explanation would be in order.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
April 30th, 2015 at 8:06:24 PM
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This is basically a re-hash of the birthday quiz that was going around two weeks ago.
April 30th, 2015 at 8:10:24 PM
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Yes it is, but you have to understand the logic to solve the puzzle. After figuring it out I read several "answers" that seemed very convoluted and obtuse. So, the explanation is the real challenge. I'll post mine in the morning, right coast time.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
May 1st, 2015 at 4:38:56 AM
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I found viewing the possible solution set as a matrix helpful:
If Snake was told the rank was T or K he would know the exact card because only TH and KS would be possible winners.
Spider John says Snake can’t know the exact card. Spider John would only know that if the suit he was told was not hearts nor spades. Snake infers from Spider John’s claim that the winning card must be either a diamond or club.
With the selection narrowed to the five cards in those suits Snake says he knows the exact card. Spider John infers from Snake’s claim that the winning rank must be unique among the diamonds and clubs, eliminating AD and AC as possibilities.
Mickey infers from Spider John’s claim to now know the winning card that his knowledge of the winning suit differentiates the winning card from among the three remaining possibilities. That is, 9C and JC are not possibilities. That leaves only QD.
9 T J Q K A
S ? ? ?
H ? ?
D ? ?
C ? ? ?
If Snake was told the rank was T or K he would know the exact card because only TH and KS would be possible winners.
9 T J Q K A
S ? ? ?
H ? ?
D ? ?
C ? ? ?
Spider John says Snake can’t know the exact card. Spider John would only know that if the suit he was told was not hearts nor spades. Snake infers from Spider John’s claim that the winning card must be either a diamond or club.
9 T J Q K A
S
H
D ? ?
C ? ? ?
With the selection narrowed to the five cards in those suits Snake says he knows the exact card. Spider John infers from Snake’s claim that the winning rank must be unique among the diamonds and clubs, eliminating AD and AC as possibilities.
9 T J Q K A
S
H
D ?
C ? ?
Mickey infers from Spider John’s claim to now know the winning card that his knowledge of the winning suit differentiates the winning card from among the three remaining possibilities. That is, 9C and JC are not possibilities. That leaves only QD.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
May 1st, 2015 at 6:06:41 AM
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The correct answer is no thanks, buy you're own dinner.Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyAt a poker table in the back of a social club not far from the banks of the Missouri sit Lucky Lil, Spider John, Snake and Mickey. Lucky Lil says, "Boys, I’m done playing for the night, but I’ll let one of you treat me to diner.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
May 1st, 2015 at 6:20:56 AM
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BleedingChipsSlowly.....Love your approach.
May 1st, 2015 at 3:47:08 PM
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Mickey just might continue to get lucky. Or he could get derailed by Black Velvet.Quote: AxelWolfThe correct answer is no thanks, buy you're own dinner.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
