397.--THE MONTENEGRIN DICE GAME.

It is said that the inhabitants of Montenegro have a little dice game

that is both ingenious and well worth investigation. The two players

first select two different pairs of odd numbers (always higher than 3)

and then alternately toss three dice. Whichever first throws the dice so

that they add up to one of his selected numbers wins. If they are both

successful in two successive throws it is a draw and they try again. For

example, one player may select 7 and 15 and the other 5 and 13. Then if

the first player throws so that the three dice add up 7 or 15 he wins,

unless the second man gets either 5 or 13 on his throw.

The puzzle is to discover which two pairs of numbers should be selected

in order to give both players an exactly even chance.

Amusements in Mathematics · 第 463 / 970 题