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

John gave half of the apples he had plus one more to Jacob. He gave half of the remaining ones plus one more to James. Now, John was left with just one apple.

Can you find out how many did he have in the beginning?

Asked by Neha on 13 Nov 2024


A brand new Mobile Phone was on sale at 20% as a promotional offer. By what per cent must the Mobile price be increased to sell it at the original price again?

Asked by Neha on 26 Oct 2023

I had an infinite supply of water and 5 litres and 3 litres jars.

How would you measure exactly 4 litres in the least number of steps?

Asked by Neha on 18 Nov 2025


One day, John and his friends were playing around. Jacob hit something with a Pin and it popped. John's dad came into the room that very moment, but he wasn't mad. In fact, he was smiling. What did Jacob hit?

Asked by Neha on 03 Jan 2025

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

On a beautiful Sunday morning, You ordered a hot tea to your hotel room and suddenly you remember an important thing that needed to be done right now will take around 3 minutes to complete.
Like most people you like your tea to be hot while drinking so, when should you pour cream in the tea?
1. straight away
2. Just people, you drink the team
3. Its does not matter

Asked by Neha on 24 Jun 2023


John had a bag containing colourful marbles. The colours are red, green and blue. The total number of marbles he had in his bag was 60. There are 4 times as many red marbles as green marbles. 6 more blue marbles than green marbles. How many marbles of each colour did John have?

Asked by Neha on 25 Jul 2026

You are mixing a mixture of cement and Sand with five gallons of water. You have a garden hose giving you all the water you need. The problem is that you only have a four-gallon bucket and a seven-gallon bucket and neither has graduation marks. Find a method to measure five gallons.

Asked by Neha on 13 Aug 2024

Suppose that you are trapped on the surface of a frozen lake. The surface is so smooth and ideal that there is no friction at all. You cant make any grip on the ice and no wind is blowing to help you out. You have just a mobile phone with you which has got no reception disabling you to call for help.

How will you plan your escape before you freeze to death on the frozen lake?

Asked by Neha on 25 Dec 2020


Find the Next Number in the Sequence

2 9 3 1 8 4 3 6 5 7 ?

Asked by Neha on 12 Sep 2024

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