Prisoner to be freed

The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.

"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled 1 and 2, each of which can be in either up or the down position. I am not telling you their present positions. The switches are not connected to anything.

"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. He must flip one switch when he visits the switch room, and may only flip one of the switches. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will be allowed to alter the switches until I lead the next prisoner into the switch room. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back. I will not touch the switches, if I wanted you dead you would already be dead.

"Given enough time, everyone will eventually visit the switch room the same number of times as everyone else. At any time, anyone may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.'

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will all die horribly. You will be carefully monitored, and any attempt to break any of these rules will result in instant death to all of you"

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?




Similar Riddles

I know a country, If you remove the last alphabet of its name, it will become a part of your body. Do you name it?

Asked by Neha on 26 Jan 2021


Why 1729 is a magic number? Answer Logically.

Asked by Neha on 08 Dec 2023

What demands an answer, but asks no questions

Asked by Neha on 23 Feb 2026


Kareena is older than Bipasha. Bipasha is younger than Karishma and younger than Katrina. Katrina is older than Kareena and Alonso, who are older than Karishma.If Alonso and Kareena are twins, who's oldest?

Asked by Neha on 06 Jun 2026

What can run but never walk, have a mouth that never speaks, have a head that never weeps, and have a bed but never sleeps?

Asked by Neha on 05 Sep 2025

A train leaves from point A for point B at 80 mph. After half an hour, another train leaves from point B for point A at 60 mph.

Which of the trains will be farther from point A when they meet ?

Asked by Neha on 23 Jan 2021


12345 a famous South Indian actor
567 is a path in jumbled form
8 & 10 are same letters
9 is one among the first six alphabets.
WHO AM I?

Asked by Neha on 14 May 2021

Replace the question mark with the correct number in below Picture:

Replace the Number

Asked by Neha on 30 May 2021

I am a prime number.
The double of myself is equal to the square of me.

which number am I?

Asked by Neha on 18 Jan 2025


Chhote se Chintu Miyan,
Lambi si Pooch.
Jahan Jaye Chintu Miyan,
Wahan Jaye Pooch.

छोटे से चींटू मियाँ,
लंबी सी पूंछ।
जहाँ जाये चींटू मियाँ,
वहाँ जाये पूंछ।

Bolo kya?

Asked by Neha on 14 May 2021

Hot Articles

Amazing Facts

No Solution

In 2007, a puzzle was released and $2 million prizes were offered for the first complete solution. The competition ended at noon on 31 December 2010, with no solution being found. Wiki