Nontransitive Dice - Nontransitive Dice Set For Three Players

Nontransitive Dice Set For Three Players

M. Oskar van Deventer introduced a set of seven dice (all faces with probability 1/6) as follows:

  • A: 2, 2, 14, 14, 17, 17
  • B: 7, 7, 10, 10, 16, 16
  • C: 5, 5, 13, 13, 15, 15
  • D: 3, 3, 9, 9, 21, 21
  • E: 1, 1, 12, 12, 20, 20
  • F: 6, 6, 8, 8, 19, 19
  • G: 4, 4, 11, 11, 18, 18

One can verify that A beats B,C,E; B beats C,D,F; C beats D,E,G; D beats A,E,F; E beats B,F,G; F beats A,C,G; G beats A,B,D. Consequently, for arbitrarily chosen two dice there is a third one that beats both of them. Namely,

  • G beats A,B; F beats A,C; G beats A,D; D beats A,E; D beats A,F; F beats A,G;
  • A beats B,C; G beats B,D; A beats B,E; E beats B,F; E beats B,G;
  • B beats C,D; A beats C,E; B beats C,F; F beats C,G;
  • C beats D,E; B beats D,F; C beats D,G;
  • D beats E,F; C beats E,G;
  • E beats F,G.

Whatever the two opponents choose, the third player will find one of the remaining dice that beats both opponents' dice.

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