20 Questions: An Intelligence-Testing Game of Yes/No Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter I_am_learning
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Game
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the game "20 Questions," where players ask Yes/No questions to identify a hidden object. Participants explore the mechanics of the game, share experiences, and engage in a live game session, while also discussing strategies and challenges encountered during play.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in formulating effective questions during the game.
  • Another participant mentions a variation of the game with only three questions, questioning its feasibility.
  • Several participants engage in a live game, asking questions to narrow down the identity of the object.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of narrowing the field rather than making random guesses.
  • Participants propose various questions to clarify the object's characteristics, such as whether it is man-made, its size, and its use in transportation.
  • Some participants express predictions about the object based on the questions asked, suggesting possibilities like a car or bicycle.
  • There are discussions about the relevance of previous questions and whether they should be counted in the total.
  • One participant introduces an AI that plays 20 Questions, sharing their experience with its performance.
  • Confusion arises over certain questions, indicating varying levels of understanding among participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the mechanics of the game and the need for strategic questioning, but there are differing opinions on the effectiveness of various approaches and the feasibility of identifying the object with limited questions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the identity of the object being guessed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the appropriateness of certain questions and their relevance to the game, indicating a lack of consensus on how to effectively narrow down the possibilities.

I_am_learning
Messages
681
Reaction score
16
I recently learned about this old game, 20 Questions. In this game, one of the players, the Answerer, thinks of an object, a common noun, and other players take turns to ask Yes/No question to him. Like, Is it less than 2kg ? , Does it run on electricity, Is it worth over 1000$? etc. If they figure it out with less than 20 questions, the Askers win, otherwise the Answerer wins. The person who finally figures it out got to be the next Answerer.
I tried playing this game with my brother (I asked all 20 questions) but found it incredibly hard to come-up with good questions. It was also because I needed to keep track of all my questions and answer in my head.

Why don't people play this intelligence demanding game here? This game suits PF :) .
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I know this game! the only difference is you only have three questions to ask instead of twenty. :biggrin:

Why don't you start the game, I_am_learning? :smile:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
OMG, How would one find out by asking only 3 questions? I am not able to, even by asking 30 questions. That's why I didn't want to start (and play) the game myself (I am too poor). I just wanted to see intelligent folks play it. :).

Ok, I can do the easier task. I am the Answerer. I have thought of an object. You can now start asking questions. Go on. :)
 
Is it man made?
 
Office_Shredder said:
Is it man made?

Yes.
 
There's a small handheld "toy" called "20Q" (a stronger version of the software is online at www.20q.com) that plays this game remarkably well. My nephew played it while I observed him, and by the time 20Q asked him if it was "green and wrinkly," both the game and I knew he was thinking of a booger. Adorable kid ...

To stay on topic, is it smaller than a microwave oven?
 
Traz 0: No.
 
Is it less than 10 kg?
 
La_Simo said:
Is it less than 10 kg?
Nope.
 
  • #10
a T.V ?
 
  • #11
krash661 said:
a T.V ?
No. But this is not how you play. You need to keep narrowing the field, not make wild guesses.
 
  • #12
I_am_learning said:
No. But this is not how you play. You need to keep narrowing the field, not make wild guesses.

i did narrow the field,
and it wasn't a wild guess, i guess from the existing questions.
 
  • #13
Is it used in the home?
 
  • #14
Tarz 0: No.
 
  • #15
Is it smaller than a house?
 
  • #16
Yes.
 
  • #17
Is it used in industry?
 
  • #18
Nope
 
  • #19
Is it used in transportation?
 
  • #20
Yes.
 
  • #21
Is it used solely for transporting people?
 
  • #22
KC_Smallz said:
Is it used solely for transporting people?

OK, we might have picked a better midpoint for our binary search lol.
 
  • #23
Traz 0 said:
OK, we might have picked a better midpoint for our binary search lol.

This determines if it is used to transport goods or not. It's actually helpful, and we still have plenty of questions.
 
  • #24
KC_Smallz said:
This determines if it is used to transport goods or not. It's actually helpful, and we still have plenty of questions.

I predict that it transports both, and that the ultimate answer is, something very close to a car. Or a bicycle. Or a scooter. I had a Strategy, damn you! lol
 
  • #25
Is it a land transport
 
  • #26
Traz 0 said:
I predict that it transports both, and that the ultimate answer is, something very close to a car. Or a bicycle. Or a scooter. I had a Strategy, damn you! lol

I suppose if he were tricky he could say yes to either way I worded the question. But that wasn't what I was getting at.
 
  • #27
Enigman said:
Is it a land transport

^^Better question than mine.
 
  • #28
Enigman said:
Is it a land transport

I like this one too. Are we agreed this is our question?
 
  • #29
Traz 0 said:
I like this one too. Are we agreed this is our question?

Yup.
 
  • #30
KC_Smallz said:
This determines if it is used to transport goods or not. It's actually helpful, and we still have plenty of questions.

I thought we were running low on questions, but, if we don't count "are you a TV," we're only at 7. And, should we REALLY count "are you a TV?"
 

Similar threads

Probability: Dice Game between 20- and 12-sided dice with re-rolls
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Starfield: New First-Person Epic Role-Playing Game by BGS
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
High School Which probability calculation is "more correct" in Baccarat games?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
How much would you pay to play this fair coin flipping game?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
7K
Game theory: competitive auction for the money in a chest
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Baccarat math and beating the edge
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Could Ergonomics Boost Gaming Success?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Shopping List Game: Probability Question
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad How Many Unique Games of Commander Can Be Played?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
High School Validating Darts Tournament Skill Levels: A Non-Intrusive Approach
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K