[M] [Logic] Coins on the round table

[SURI]

Now you need to play a game with me..

Game goes like this..
We have a round table and a huge set of round coins (assume those are carrom board coins). One of us start the game by placing a coin on the table and other one follows him by putting another coin on the table.. alternatively they put the coins until they reach a position where they can't put any more coins without overlap.
The first one who fails to put a coin will loose the game..

Can anyone comeup with a best strategy to play/win this game?

[ashok Mudithanapalli]

I know the answer.
Got it from Suresh.

Waiting for others to solve.

-a

[Shyam Prakash Velupula]

Suresh,

Can you define what overlap means?

-Shyam

On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 7:45 PM, SURI <koorel...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
You are limited only by your imagination

[SURI]

• They can't share the space.
• You can't put a coin on top of another coin and you cant use the support of other coins.
• And all coins needs to be placed horizontally like we place the coins on carrom board but they need not be adjacent.
• Game continues as long as we have a space to put a coin completely on the table.

-- SURI

[Shyam Prakash Velupula]

Assuming every one is going to use the same strategy place the coin at a place that maximizes the chances of winning (Min-Max funda :-) )

Here it goes, it doesn't make sense to me, but just a try

- As long as there is space place the coin randomly at biggest open space (assuming i lands are formed due to people putting coins at random places)
- The whole game boils down to one final iland
- If the available space seems to suffice for one round, prefer putting the coin such that it's placing wastes max possible space
- Else put the coin adjacent to an existing coin (as in carom board) to improve a chance of getting to play the next round


Thanks
Shyam Velupula

[SURI]

Good approach Shyam,

But it does not give any information about who is going to win. If I use your strategy still the chances of loosing the game is not very less.

I am expecting an approach with which always selects one winner... at least more than 90% of the cases.. or if you come up with any deterministic strategy then it will be great..

-- SURI

[Rajesh Inakota]

 Big clue : Here we need to use the logic of symmetry.

--
Regards,
Rajesh.I

[Shyam Prakash Velupula]

Rajesh,

I didn't read the post clearly, i was assuming that this is a N player game.
Symmetry would work only for 2 player game.

- Shyam Velupula

[SURI]

Shyam, this game is between two players only..

-- SURI