| Title: | Mathematics at DEC | 
| Moderator: | RUSURE::EDP | 
| Created: | Mon Feb 03 1986 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 2083 | 
| Total number of notes: | 14613 | 
    Two card players, A and B, are playing a card game which we shall
    call K.  Both players must ante $1 before each deal.  Player A deals
    one card to each player.  The deck contains an infinite number of
    cards, half being 1's and half being 2's.
    
    After the deal, A opens the betting by either passing, or betting
    1$.  B may then either fold (if A bet), call (by matching the raise,
    if any), or raise 1$ (also requires B to match any outstanding bet).
    If B has raised, then A may chose to fold or call.  Either a fold,
    or a call ends the betting.
    
    If a player folds, they forfeit the pot.  If a hand is called, then
    the player with the higher hand (a 2 beats a 1) wins the pot.  Ties
    are split between them.
    
    These are the legal betting sequences:
    
    	A	B	A	Result
    	----	----	----	------
    	Pass	Pass		Best hand wins $2 pot
    	Bet $1	Fold		A wins $3 pot
    	Bet $1	Call		Best hand wins $4 pot
    	Pass	Bet $1	Fold	B wins $3 pot
    	Pass	Bet $1	Call	Best hand wins $4 pot
    	Bet $1	Up $1	Fold	B wins $5 pot
    	Bet $1	Up $1	Call	Best hand wins $6 pot
    
    Problem:  Describe the best strategy for both A and B, and the expected
    	    return for each.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990.1 | oh BTW is that countably infinite? | AITG::DERAMO | Daniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'Eramo | Sun Dec 11 1988 23:09 | 4 | 
|      I assume one doesn't see the others card; but does one get
     to peek at ones own card?
     
     Dan
 | |||||
| 990.2 | Right. | DWOVAX::YOUNG | Great Cthulu Starry Wisdom Band | Mon Dec 12 1988 10:04 | 1 | 
| 990.3 | A Simpler Problem: | CHOVAX::YOUNG | Church of the One Electron. | Thu Sep 06 1990 09:13 | 30 | 
|     OK, since I didn't get any takers on this one, let me try to simplify
    it:
    
    	This is a 2-player card game.  Each player draws a card from a
    seperate deck (ie. they are independent).  Each deck consists of just 2
    cards, a 1 and a 2.  After looking at their own card each player
    decides whether to bet 1$ or 2$.  Both players make this choice at the
    same time without knowing wither what card the other player has, or
    what bet the other player is going to make.
    
    	After they have both decided, the bets are revealed:
    
    		A)  If both bets are the same, the betting is over 
    		(GoTo Showdown:)
    
    		B)  If the bets are different (ie. a 1$ bet and a 2$ bet), 
    		Then the player with the 1$ bet must decide whether to
    			Fold, in which case he loses his 1$..., or
    			Match by adding another 1$ (GoTo Showdown:)
    
    	ShowDown:  Both players reveal their cards.  The higher card wins
    		the pot.  Ties divide the pot.
    
    ~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
    
    Now;
    		What is the best strategy?
    
    
    --  Barry
 | |||||
| 990.4 | Deja noteu | VMSDEV::HALLYB | The Smart Money was on Goliath | Thu Sep 06 1990 12:08 | 5 | 
| >    		What is the best strategy?
    
    Not to sound like a broken record but:  IS THERE a best strategy?
    
      John
 | |||||
| 990.5 | Where was this asked before? | CHOVAX::YOUNG | Church of the One Electron. | Thu Sep 06 1990 14:31 | 1 | 
| I believe that there is. | |||||