A six-shooter is loaded with three cartridges in consecutive chambers, before two persons start to play "Russian Roulette" until one is dead.

If the cylinder isn't spun after each attempt, would you rather be the first shooter, or the second?

What would be your answer if there are only TWO cartridges, of course in consecutive chambers?

If there are three consecutive filled chambers, the first will lose if he either picks one of those, or if he picks the middle empty chamber, so that's 2/3 odds against.

With two consecutive filled chambers, the result is the same: the first will lose if he picks one of those, or if he picks the first or third empty chambers, so it's 2/3 odds again.

Posted by Oskar on 2004-09-11 21:41:48