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

People are waiting in line to board a 100-seat aeroplane. Steve is the first person in the line. He gets on the plane but suddenly can't remember what his seat number is, so he picks a seat at random. After that, each person who gets on the plane sits in their assigned seat if it's available, otherwise, they will choose an open seat at random to sit in. The flight is full and you are last in line. What is the probability that you get to sit in your assigned seat?

Asked by Neha on 13 Mar 2024


First, think of the colour of clouds. Next think the colour of snow. Last, think of the colour of the moon. Now, what do cows drink?

Asked by Neha on 28 Apr 2022

A man was convicted of a minor offence in Akbar court. Akbar decided to give him a chance. He asked him to give a statement. If the statement is true, he will be killed by lions and if it is false, he will be killed by trampling of wild elephants.

The convicted person requested help from Birbal and since the crime was not a big one, Birbal decided to help him. Whatever Birbal suggested impressed Kabir and he let the convicted person go.

What did Birbal suggest to the person?

Asked by Neha on 10 May 2021


Can you find the missing number in the third row?
35 20 14
27 12 18
5 2 ?

Asked by Neha on 26 Jun 2023

I am sometimes honest
Sometimes dishonest
I can be sweet and also bitter
I can hurt you real bad and
also make u smile and blush ☺️
What am I?

Asked by Neha on 14 May 2021

The measurement of time, That can't be found on a clock, But can be looked upon on a map.

Who is He ?

Asked by Neha on 30 Jan 2021


Why Wine Glass Stem is so long?

Wine Glass

Asked by Neha on 24 Jul 2023

When a clock is observed, the hour hand is at a minute mark and the minutes hand is six minutes ahead of it.

When the clock is observed again after some time, the hour hand is precisely on a different minute mark and the minute hand is seven minutes ahead of it.

Can you calculate how much time has elapsed between the two observations?

Asked by Neha on 07 Jul 2021

You are an expert on paranormal activity and have been hired to locate a spirit haunting an old resort hotel. Strong signs indicate that the spirit lies behind one of four doors. The inscriptions on each door read as follows:

Door A: It's behind B or C
Door B: Its behind A or D
Door C: It's in here
Door D: It's not in here

Your psychic powers have told you three of the inscriptions are false, and one is true. Behind which door will you find the spirit?

Asked by Neha on 23 Oct 2023


A guard is positioned at the one side of the bridge saying ‘A’. His task is to shoot all those who try to leave from ‘A’ to the other side and say ‘B’. He also need to welcome the person who comes from another side ‘B’ to his side ‘A’. The guard comes out of his post every 1 hour and looks down the bridge for any people trying to leave. You are at side ‘A’ and wish to go to another side ‘B’. you also know that it would take 1:45 hr to cross the bridge. How will you cross the bridge?

Asked by Neha on 23 Apr 2024

Hot Articles

Amazing Facts

Word ladder puzzle

The word ladder puzzle was invented by Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.