Math Is Fun Forum

flagpole

Member

Registered: 2006-07-20

Posts: 1

tricky card puzzle

I've been working on a puzzle for ages and i'm really quite proud of the solution:

You have 52 playing cards (26 red, 26 black). You draw cards one by one. A red card pays you a dollar. A black one fines you a dollar. You can stop any time you want. Cards are not returned to the deck after being drawn. What is the optimal stopping rule in terms of maximizing expected payoff? Also, what is the expected payoff following this optimal rule?

it took me two years to find the solution

it's here http://puzzles.nigelcoldwell.co.uk/ #14

Zach

Member

Registered: 2005-03-23

Posts: 2,075

Re: tricky card puzzle

Fix the deck when no-one's looking.

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Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.