Math Is Fun Forum

javacodeman

Member

Registered: 2007-04-04

Posts: 9

Deep Grey is a sorry game

I just wanted to post my frustration at the game.  After just math-nelly picking a number of boxes, I thought I figure out how to win:

Let the number of boxes remaining be "B"

if B modulo 3 is equal to 1, pick one box
if B modulo 3 is equal to 2, pick two boxes
if B modulo 3 is equal to 0, you'll lose (assuming that the other player follows the above two rules)

Since the starting point is B = 18 (which is divisible by 3) and since deep grey knows how to play, you can never win.

java

Last edited by javacodeman (2007-04-11 14:43:18)

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

But keep trying ... you might just win

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

javacodeman

Member

Registered: 2007-04-04

Posts: 9

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

I typed in w i l l y - n e l l y and it keeps putting it up as hairy-nelly.  What gives?

java

javacodeman

Member

Registered: 2007-04-04

Posts: 9

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

I just wanted to post my frustration at the game.  After just math-nelly picking a number of boxes, I thought I figure out how to win:

Let the number of boxes remaining be "B"

if B modulo 3 is equal to 1, pick one box
if B modulo 3 is equal to 2, pick two boxes
if B modulo 3 is equal to 0, you'll lose (assuming that the other player follows the above two rules)

Since the starting point is B = 18 (which is divisible by 3) and since deep grey knows how to play, you can never win.

java

Okay, I'll recant somewhat.  After figuring out the method of winning, I assumed that the programmer made deep grey smart enough to win every time.  Apparently he lapses every once in a while.

java

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Aha! You discovered a secret ... a "human" program

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Huh, cool. I just made the same assumption and thought the Deep Grey would always win.

As for the other thing, when random words get replaced by random other words, it's almost certainly the work of the word filter. I'm not sure why the replacement is hair, but that's what's doing it anyway.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Wow, is this game really hard? I went to try it after reading this and won my first try.

Ok, I think I just found out the trick right away and that's how I won, he hasn't beat me yet. I just get it down to 5 boxes at the end and it's my turn... I pick 2, and whatever he picks I will win. I'm sure sometimes this won't be possible though.

Also, MathsIsFun, I found a bug with this game. Whenever you click "Choose One" or "Choose Two" you take squares, even if it isn't your turn. There's an easy way to win the game too .

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Thanks Zhy.

.. fixed it: Deep Grey

(I wonder if there are any cool variations I could make?)

Last edited by MathsIsFun (2007-04-13 11:16:22)

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

That wasn't hard.

Maybe change the way that the CPU thinks by adding difficulty levels. Perhaps even add a timer so that you have to move quickly. Or a speed game.

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Heh, this is pretty easy, the first time I won by clicking 'Pick Two' the whole way, second time I clicked 'Pick One' only at the end.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Difficulty Level sounds good.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

The game is too easy for me now...now I know that;

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

That won't get you the win every time, Deep Grey always changes its moves a little bit even if you keep yours the same.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Really? I played it a few dozen times (literally) and its method never changed. Perhaps this is a bug or a glitch needing to be fixed? Perhaps I am wrong myself.

U7109

Real Member

Registered: 2007-03-19

Posts: 485

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

I win every time i play that Deep Grey thing.

It isn't hard.

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"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination," ~ John Lennon

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

Thus proving that the game 'Deep Grey' is a sorry game...

...

Whatever that may mean, anyway.

rida

Real Member

Registered: 2006-09-25

Posts: 839

Re: Deep Grey is a sorry game

The game is too easy for me now...now I know that;

That method doesn't work for me.

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Dreams don't come true, you gotta make them come true.