The Stage
There are 100 stationary gun targets. You and your opponent have a 100% hit-target-ratio.
Here's the Game
You have the choice to shoot one, two, or three targets with each turn, as does your opponent. You also get to decide who goes first. The person whom shoots the last target wins.
What's your Choice?
Is there a way to ensure your victory? Is this a game that can be solved? If so, what's the solution? Can you beat your opponent, no matter what his/ her response is to your decisions.
Reach Into that Grey Matter...
Is there a solution? Where to begin?
You'll get no hints from here...I'm completely tight lipped on this one, sorry :)
Why Should You Care?
You mean, besides the healthy benefits of exercising your brain? Hmm, ...you know what, I haven't given it that much thought.. Hmm...let's see... there's got to be some other incentive...other than clowns being involved...hmmmm...
...oh, I've got it!
I'll give a prize to the first Steemian to provide me with the right solution!
...if one exists, that is ;)
Yeah! That's EXACTLY what I'll do...and I'll do it to the best of my darned abilities...I will! You betcha!
Let's Make it Official by Placing a Few Stipulations... I know, I'm sorry...
ONLY by placing a 50% (or greater) up-vote on this post can one qualify for the reward. The reward is all Steem Dollars (SBD) generated from the cumulative up-votes on this post.
Once qualified, be the first to provide the right solution, or the first to state that there's no solution, and you'll get the full reward by no later than 24 hours after your correct response.
Should I Get the Impression that This Task is a Tad Too Challenging for the Ol' Cranial Muscle...
...then I'll perhaps throw the community a few bones in the way of hints, down in the comments.
Should Nobody Provide the Correct Answer Within 24 Hours...
...I'll give the full reward to, by priority:
1.) the answer that I deem to be most "on track" and/or closest to being correct
2.) an answer that not only makes me chuckle, but gets a good time belly jigglin' laugh out of me ;)
...Are You Still Here?
Get to crackin' on it, already, why don't ya? Jeez laweez!
My Name is @jamesbrown and You Can Copy this Game Idea of Mine 'Til your Heart is Absolutely, Wholly, 100% Content...and Then Some!!! (:
I heart you...I really do...
...no, I don't think that you quite comprehend the level of seriousness emanating from me right now...like, no fakesies, like, AT ALL!!!
...just promise me that you won't go off and forget me, now, you special person, you!
;)
...but, seriously, you should probably, like, try to earn some money and stuff....so, yeah...cuz, like, money is good for buying stuff and stuff is good... and stuff...right?...so...but I really appreciate your time, don't get me wrong...I really do...but this is kind of, like, a game and stuff...so...yeah...a game kind of, like, you know, needs "gamers" and stuff like that...so........ye-ah...uhhhh...yeah.............yeah.
...you can, like, comment, just for the sake of commenting, if ya want.
...???...
...or you can, like, up-vote this post and, yeah... like, yeah, just, like, you know,...?... leave...!...?...and never come back...not that I want you to go, you know, but I just don't want you to, like, you know, just be here and...um, like... yeah, do nothing...cuz it kinda reminds me too much about myself and stuff...but..you know...
...not that I'm lazy or anything like that, but...um, uh, I just...oh, hell, we've got a game going on here!
Get with it, already!
I'll take a stab at this! I'm new, so...i hope my voting is 50% or more (not sure how to tell).
a. You want your opponent to start, on target 1.
b. You force your opponent to start their turn on target number 1, 5, 9, etc. (+4) all the way up to 88, 92, 96.
c. To ensure they always start on those +4 numbers you make them go first (on target 1) and you play it this way: no matter what amount of targets they shoot, you respond this way: If your turn starts on 1 target after the +4 number (for example, 89) shoot 3 targets; if 2 targets after the +4 number (for example 90) shoot 2 targets; if 3 targets after the +4 number (for example 91) shoot 1 target. End your turn always on the +4 numbers, so they are forced to start their turn on those numbers.
e. Follow this plan, and you'll end up forcing him to start his last turn on target 96. No matter what he chooses, you'll always have the last shot.
f. Revel in your victory!
First of all, sorry for my comments just a couple of moments ago. They're inappropriate, considering that you showed the kindness to play along.
I made the foolish mistake of not refreshing this page, looking at the stats to see only one up-vote (my own) and no comments after being up for an hour. I then made the comments that you see and, only then, refreshed the page. Another "doh! moment" in the life of @jamesbrown...oh well, that's life.
As to your question, votes are 100% by default, so you're good there.
Also, everything looks good in your solution. at a glace.
I don't know where the payout will be on this post, I assume not a whole lot based on what this post has gathered so far. So, what I'll do is send whatever Steem Dollars I get from this post plus the SD that are already in my wallet to your account.
Thanks for playing, @spark, and sorry again for my ignorant rudeness.
Hey, no worries! It's a clever puzzle! At first glance I thought there was no solution. Then started counting back from 100, working it out step-by-step, and the solution showed up. How did you create this? Is it adapted from another puzzle or 100% your own? I'd like to use it in a quest with the children at my LARP summer camp - cool with you? Credited to James Brown. And I was delighted to see a puzzle on the feed!
Nah, it's not really my own. It's a variation of a game that I saw on a television show - Survivor.
The Survivor competition involved two teams, taking between one and three flags out of 21 flags, to start - working out to the same solution. The major difference being that they played for a million dollar grand-prize and we're playing here for peanuts and giggles.
Oh well, lol.
Hey, thanks for the compliment and, by all means, have fun sharing it with the children. I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
cool, nice adaptation! Thanks for posting.
Thanks again, and you bet :)
You would go 2nd. Every turn your opponent took, you would counter that by making it equal a total of 4 for that round. Ex: He shoots 1, you shoot 3..he shoots 2, you shoot 2..he shoots 3, you shoot 1. With this, your 2nd to last turn will end on 96. He can no longer win with shooting 1, 2, or 3...knowing he can't win at this point, and knowing once his turn is over that you will win..he may choose to turn the gun on you instead claiming you to be a bonus target. So, even though this method ensures you a victory..when playing competitive games involving deadly weapons, sometimes it might just be better to take the loss of the game rather than risk the loss of your life.. :s
Edit: Didn't read any of the responses before posting..it looks like spark got it right away, but it was definitely more fun trying to solve it myself!
You're right on both accounts: your solution and @spark beating you to it.
I guess there's a bit of a problem with this set-up if one wants to solve without hints while, at the same time, knowing whether they're wasting their time regarding the prize (checking comments for the right answer).
Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there's any way to get around this issue.
In any case, I thank you for giving it a try and I congratulate you on your correct solution.
This post has been ranked within the top 10 most undervalued posts in the first half of Nov 14. We estimate that this post is undervalued by $18.11 as compared to a scenario in which every voter had an equal say.
See the full rankings and details in The Daily Tribune: Nov 14 - Part I. You can also read about some of our methodology, data analysis and technical details in our initial post.
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Thanks to all you up-voters out there, as well.
I apologize for my rude comments. Please see my response to @spark for my explanation why I made them (hint: it stems from ignorance).
Oh, and I really like talking to myself too, so that's also part of the problem ;)
...or don't get with it...
LOL. I love life :)
...here I am now, by myself, talking to myself...that, that's chaos...
I recognize that quote from Jurassic Park - Ian Malcom. Am I right?
You're funny, mate.
That's right!
I think he actually said "...here I am in a car, by myself, talking to myself...", but close enough for me :)
He's my favorite character in one of my top five, best movies of all time. Thanks for the comment and the compliment.
One of my all-time favs, too.
I've always had a soft spot for the dynamic between Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler and the children, but Ian is vital in adding his own unique element. TBH, there are a lot of memorable characters in Jurassic Park. I guess that's part of what makes it so great.
Hey, we're not too far off on our sentiments, bro.
It's actually quite tough for me to choose a favorite, but I tend to identify with the sexy and mysterious type for some reason...unfortunately, not a joke...yet, I still find myself laughing :)