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

[I_am_learning]

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 :) .

 

[drizzle]

I know this game! the only difference is you only have three questions to ask instead of twenty.

Why don't you start the game, I_am_learning?

 

[I_am_learning]

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. :)

 

[Office_Shredder]

Is it man made?

 

[I_am_learning]

Is it man made?

Yes.

 

[Traz 0]

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?

 

[I_am_learning]

Traz 0: No.

 

[La_Simo]

Is it less than 10 kg?

 

[I_am_learning]

Is it less than 10 kg?

Nope.

 

[krash661]

a T.V ?

 

[I_am_learning]

a T.V ?

No. But this is not how you play. You need to keep narrowing the field, not make wild guesses.

 

[krash661]

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.

 

[Traz 0]

Is it used in the home?

 

[I_am_learning]

Tarz 0: No.

 

[Traz 0]

Is it smaller than a house?

 

[I_am_learning]

Yes.

 

[Traz 0]

Is it used in industry?

 

[I_am_learning]

Nope

 

[Traz 0]

Is it used in transportation?

 

[I_am_learning]

Yes.

 

[KC_Smallz]

Is it used solely for transporting people?

 

[Traz 0]

Is it used solely for transporting people?

OK, we might have picked a better midpoint for our binary search lol.

 

[KC_Smallz]

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.

 

[Traz 0]

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

 

[Enigman]

Is it a land transport

 

[KC_Smallz]

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.

 

[KC_Smallz]

Is it a land transport

^^Better question than mine.

 

[Traz 0]

Is it a land transport

I like this one too. Are we agreed this is our question?

 

[KC_Smallz]

I like this one too. Are we agreed this is our question?

Yup.

 

[Traz 0]

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?"

 

[KC_Smallz]

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?"

I suppose it would be fair.

 

[Traz 0]

I suppose it would be fair.

Then, 8.

 

[I_am_learning]

Is it a land transport

Yes.

 

[drizzle]

Is it black?

 

[Enigman]

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

(Is a bicycle less than 10 kg? I'm sure I have seen lighter ones...) well here are questions I will leave you to choose from them:
Does it have more than 4 wheels? Excluding spares.
Is it curiosity the Mars rover? Perhaps it would be better to ask if it is common: we could just eliminate bat mobile, tanks, S.W.O.R.D.S and horse carraiges. Sorry poor joke.

 

[I_am_learning]

What is the consensus on the next question?

 

[Enigman]

I have mat 101 class now...Is it commonly seen?

 

[I_am_learning]

No. (not commonly seen)

 

[Enigman]

Is it mentioned in the previous posts?

 

[lisab]

Does it have wheels?

 

[MisterX]

Some of you might be interested in this AI that plays 20 questions.

 

[I_am_learning]

Does it have wheels?

Yes.

 

[I_am_learning]

Is it mentioned in the previous posts?

I don't get this question. Pass.

 

[edward]

Are the wheels propelled in any manner by a motor or engine that is an integral part of the object.

 

[I_am_learning]

Are the wheels propelled in any manner by a motor or engine that is an integral part of the object.

Nope

 

[drizzle]

Do children use it?

 

[Traz 0]

Are the wheels propelled in any manner by a motor or engine that is an integral part of the object.

I didn't really get this question, and I still don't. But, it was *clearly* a smart question, since I didn't anticipate the answer. :-)

All I've got now is land yacht, which isn't as all that uncommon, or, maybe something like the lunar rover, with motors in the wheels? Though, I would consider wheels integral ...

Take us home, Edward!

 

[drizzle]

I was thinking the car/vehicle's engine might be the answer, but the last answered questions are confusing...

 

[fluidistic]

Some of you might be interested in this AI that plays 20 questions.

Not that good. I was thinking about a velvet mite. It asked about 30 questions before giving up. It wrote "Is it a woodloose (insect)?"... The woodloose is NOT an insect, it's a crustacean!
Then it stated that I contradicted its knowledge 5 times:
Does it live in a forest? I answered "sometimes", its thoughts are "No".
Can it jump? I answered "no". Its thoughts are "probably".
Is it boring? I answered "no", it wanted a "yes".
Does it live in the grassland? I answered "sometimes", it wanted a "no".
Can one find it over a desk? I answered "sometimes", it wanted a "doubtful".

 

[Enigman]

I didn't really get this question, and I still don't. But, it was *clearly* a smart question, since I didn't anticipate the answer. :-)

All I've got now is land yacht, which isn't as all that uncommon, or, maybe something like the lunar rover, with motors in the wheels? Though, I would consider wheels integral ...

Take us home, Edward!

Or perhaps some thing like horse carraige, Ox carts, Hand rickshaws, Bicycles...