Table and coins puzzle

Table and coins puzzle

Posers and Puzzles

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c

Joined
10 Aug 04
Moves
1544
23 Oct 05

Originally posted by PBE6
I think I've got something. You definitely want to go first and place a coin in the centre of the table. On all your subsequent turns, you place your coin opposite your opponent's coin on the same diameter. To be a bit clearer:

Let "O" be the centre of the table (where the first coin was placed)
Let "A" be your opponent's coin
Let "B" be your c ...[text shortened]... lacing your coin in the centre avoids this problem, and ensures you always follow your opponent.
Nothing matters after you put the first coin down deadcenter. Wherever your opponent places his coin after that you can always put your coin in a place mirroring where he put his.. This also mean that the numer of coins you could place in the circle is always an odd number.

P
Bananarama

False berry

Joined
14 Feb 04
Moves
28719
23 Oct 05

Originally posted by chasparos
Nothing matters after you put the first coin down deadcenter. Wherever your opponent places his coin after that you can always put your coin in a place mirroring where he put his.. This also mean that the numer of coins you could place in the circle is always an odd number.
There are an infinite number of ways to implement the "mirroring" strategy, but I thought it would be clearest if I explained it using a diameter, as that is the closest "mirror" to the mirroring strategy.

It does matter what you do after you place the first coin, because it is conceivable that by proper placement you could eliminate spots for subsequent coins, thereby changing the parity (eveness/oddness) of the number of coins ultimately placed on the table, thereby losing the game when you could have won.

s

Joined
09 Feb 05
Moves
6175
23 Oct 05

and be sure at the end to headbutt the guy and rush off with all of the coins.

Joined
26 Apr 03
Moves
26771
24 Oct 05
1 edit

How about if you are placing your (sticky) coins on the surface of a sphere. Should you go first or second?

V

Joined
08 Oct 05
Moves
723
24 Oct 05

I think 2nd. Just place coins opposite where the other guy did.
What if the table is an equilateral triangle?

P
Bananarama

False berry

Joined
14 Feb 04
Moves
28719
24 Oct 05

You guys should work for Parker Brothers.

V

Joined
08 Oct 05
Moves
723
26 Oct 05

Parker Brothers are?