h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to win a pint using binary arithmetic - A1123345
Author: Al Symer - U222175

I've tried to make this as clear as I can. It needs some interested party to try it out to check whether I have inadvertently failed the clarity hurdle.

I like the idea of the entry, and to my mind it seems GFTG. However ...

I had a read-through and gave up about half-way. Ok, admittedly I'm slightly biased as I used to play a "simpler" version of this game where you have 5 / 6 / 7 matches to begin with, and the player can only take 1,2 or 3 matches at a time. Generally I relied on knowing that you can always win from certain combinations (which is what you talk about in the 2nd half).

Ok some actual criticisms beyond I got bored ...
1) the title only reflects half the entry.
2) I'm not sure what GUIDEML can get you, but there is currently a problem with the binary arithmetic example. The lack of columning makes the sum seem wrong.
3) In fact the point at which I gave up was when I realised I'd have to convert the number of matches to binary, keep these three numbers in my head, then add them together to decide whether they total 0 or 2. Then make a decision on how many matches to take. And of course all this while trying not to look conspicuous as to having a strategy to your partner ...

As a starting point, I suggest:
1) retitle - something like "Last Shall Be First - A Pub Drinking Game".
2) Put the binary explanation at the end (as this is the science behind it), and the non-binary explanation first.
3) Perhaps cut down to a more user-friendly level such as 5/6/7 matches, and suggest that those wanting a challenge should play with between 10 & 15 in each row.

I'm sorry, not a particularly positive review, but hope it begins the ball rolling ...

BBS

Thanks for the constructive criticism. I accept points a and b, but if you make it 5,6,7 each time, the winning strategy is likely to become obvious if you play many times with the same person/people. (Of course, if you do that, it is more subtle to just win, say, two out of three, or three out of four).

I think the 5/6/7 game is slightly different from the "10 or more" version in that it limits how many matches you can take on any occasion. Would this affect the binary arithmetic?

However IMHO the 5/6/7 game is still good enough.

My reasoning is two-fold:
1) the strategy does not become easily obvious. You're forgetting that you know it.
>>a) you don't let on to there being a winning strategy ie claim it's random and you can just read the moves ahead better.
>>b) allow yourself to lose occasionally. The mark of a good hustler.
>>c) remember you're in a pub so alcohol will screw with your buddy's mind/make it harder for them to work it out.
>>d) they'll be concentrating on working out the moves ahead to allow them to win they probably won't have time to consider how you win so often.

Your buddy will probably never realise that it can be won consistently.
Of course if all your mates are Maths PHDs you may have a problem, but I reckon the average Joe doesn't think enough.

BTW on reflection this above bit, if rewritten might add some new direction to the entry. Use it if you feel it's accurate.

2) it might make the entry easier to read and understand. Lesser examples are of course always easier to think through.

Anyway keep going with the entry. I think you've picked on a good idea, we just need to get it user-friendly

BBS

Aargh Too complicated for me. I'll leave this type of game to others!

I've rehashed the whole thing in accordance with comments to date. I was going to change the title but couldn't immediately see how to do it - any advice on this, plus further comments gratefully received.

Al

You change the title in the top box on the 'Edit Entry' page.

However, I'm opposition to Mr Shorts, here. I think it's a great title - very h2g2esque - and a fine entry to boot.

The maths looks OK to me, although obviously we'd advise that you keep it as simple as possible - if you see any more ways to do this then pelase do so. Also, I'd be quite tempted to put the 'Theory' section before the 'Putting it into Practice' (as you could re-title it ) section, just to make it more narrative.

All just suggestions, feel free to ignore any or all of them.

B

It's not that I didn't like the title - I did. It's just that I didn't feel it represented the entry. But there you go ...

IMHO it's definitely improved, but I think could do with some more work.

Let's see what I can suggest:
1) I've just realised the version of the game I used to play was a case of you won if you *didn't* take the last match I doubt it makes much difference.

2) I guess the point about those seven situations is that while your partner cannot move facing one of them to creating another, you can when it is your turn again. E.g. when your partner plays EXAMPLE 1 from 1,6,7 they can either take the 1-column in which case you set up equals; take from the 6-column column let's say 2 matches to leave 1,4,7 which you convert to 1,4,5; or if they take from the 7-column you can convert it to either 0-6-6, 1-4-5 or 1-5-4 depending on how many they take.

3) How about making it more pubby, and talk up the Hustling element. The thing I've always like about this entry is its opening tone. You touch on the "occasionally let your partner win" comment in the opening. Why not expand on this a little, by suggesting how to ensure they never beat you at crucial times e.g. ply them with alcohol, give them false knowledge ("ooh good I'm facing equal columns"), convert to a different version of the game.

4) in the "Theory" Section instead of:

"The pattern is that if the number of matches in each row is expressed in binary and then the columns of binary are added, the position is strategic if the sum of each column is "even", i.e. either 0 or 2. "

Wouldn't it be simpler to read something like:
"When the number of matches in each row is converted to binary, and the resulting three numbers added together as decimals, the position is strategic if all of the result's digits are even (ie 0 or 2)".

Hmmm, probably not

I'm not sure what else to suggest ... it's a tough subject to explain as it's such a physical concept.

Good luck,
BBS

Suggestion 3 sounds dangerously like Sharking to me, Shorts.

I've come across them before, the guys who let you win a game of pool and then say 'Fiver on the next game?' Does h2g2 really want to encourage that sort of behaviour?

All in good jest...

B

Having read the comments since I rehashed the article, I don't really see any points that indicate the need for changes.

Dealing with some specific points:

a) BBS said that he thought the title "represents only half the entry", whereas Mr B said he thought the original title was better than the suggested alternative. On thinking about it, I tend to agree with the latter. After all, "How to win ..." clearly implies a game or challenge, and "using binary arithmetic" covers the theoretical basis of the game.

b) There is a similar game whereby the object is to make your opponent to take the last match, which uses similar principles until you get to the final stages, but putting that in would complicate the explanation and make it more difficult to follow.

c) BBS gave further examples of moves, but I have included three examples, and I would suppose that anyone attracted to trying the game out would try a few themselves before playing the game for real.

d) The suggestions for hustling - I have suggested that it is a good idea to deliberately lose some games, and I reckon how people act in order to appear convincing will depend on their own personality.

So for the moment at least I have not made any changes to my last draft.

Cheers.

Can't say fairer than that.

B

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Jolly good show.

Obviously someone understood it then.

B