Two reasonably competent chess players are discussing chess in a bar. A duffer comes up and challenges them to simultaneous matches, with the duffer playing white on one game, and black on the other. He offers a substantial bet on the outcome. However, since he's inexperienced, he will win the bet unless the two experienced players as a whole do better than the duffer. (That is, two draws or one win and one loss will result in the duffer winning the bet.)

The challenge is accepted, and play starts. After a few moves, the experienced players throw up their hands in disgust, and pay off the bet.

Question 1: What happened?

Question 2: Having accepted the challenge, what ought the experienced players to have done in order to win?

The duffer copied the moves of both players, thus assuring that either both games result in a draw, or a win lose situation.

If the competent chess players insist that the duffer always be the first person to play, and assuming that their experience will lead them to victory, then that should suffice to guarantee that the duffer loses both games.

Posted by Eric on 2003-12-01 11:09:14