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

What is the difference between a jeweller and a jailer?

Asked by Neha on 11 Jul 2025


John can eat 27 chocolates in an hour, Jacob can eat 2 chocolates in 10 minutes, and Jolly can eat 7 chocolates in 20 minutes. How long will it take them to share and eat a box of 120 chocolates whilst playing Chess?

Asked by Neha on 09 Sep 2024

f you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?

Asked by Neha on 14 May 2021


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

A woman shoots her husband.

Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes.

Finally, she hangs him.

But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together.

How can this be?

Shoot to Kill

Asked by Neha on 20 Mar 2021

Before Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean, which was the largest ocean before that?

Asked by Neha on 03 Jul 2026


What have one eye but still cannot see?

Asked by Neha on 27 Dec 2025

Find three numbers such that When we multiply three numbers, we will get the prime numbers. The difference between the second and the first number is equal to the third and second.

Asked by Neha on 20 Apr 2025

A man wants to cross the pit of fire which is 25 feet in length and he has 2 planks(fire resistant) 19 feet in length. How can he cross the pit of fire alive?

Asked by Neha on 02 Oct 2025


Okay before we begin with the puzzle, do keep in mind that you have to answer it quickly.

You are participating in a car race. Seeking the perfect moment, you overtake the second person in the race. What positions are you in now?

Asked by Neha on 22 Dec 2025

Hot Articles

Amazing Facts

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence has crushed all human records in the puzzle game “2048,” achieving a high score of 839,732 and beating the game in only 973 moves without using any undo.