Red Queen Puzzle
There are only two red queens. For flip number x to show the second queen, the first queen has to show up somewhere before x. The later x is, the more earlier spots there are for that first queen. No flip has more earlier cards than the last one, so its chances are highest. It’s still a long shot, but it’s the best long shot you’ve got!
If this doesn't quite make sense, you can imagine the game with three cards: two queens and one king. The possible permutations of a shuffled "deck" are:
QQK
QKQ
KQQ
You will not pick spot 1, as that's a guaranteed loss. But there is a clear advantage of picking spot 3 over spot 2. If you pick spot 2, there is a 1/3 chance of winning, whereas if you pick spot 3, there is a 2/3 chance. The same general idea applies to the full deck, just at a larger scale.
More Puzzles
Courses
Fallacy Detectors
Develop the skills to tackle logical fallacies through a series of 10 science-fiction videos with activities. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Social Media Simulator
Teach your kids to spot misinformation and manipulation in a safe and controlled environment before they face the real thing. Recommended for ages 9 and up.
A Statistical Odyssey
Learn about common mistakes in data analysis with an interactive space adventure. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Logic for Teens
Learn how to make sense of complicated arguments with 14 video lessons and activities. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Emotional Intelligence
Learn to recognize, understand, and manage your emotions. Designed by child psychologist Ronald Crouch, Ph.D. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.
Worksheets
Logical Fallacies Worksheets and Lesson Plans
Teach your grades 3-7 students about ten common logical fallacies with these engaging and easy-to-use lesson plans and worksheets.
Symbolic Logic Worksheets
Worksheets covering the basics of symbolic logic for children ages 13 and up.
Elementary School Worksheets and Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 2-5 about superstitions, different perspectives, facts and opinions, the false dilemma fallacy, and probability.
Middle School Worksheets and Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 5-8 about false memories, confirmation bias, Occam’s razor, the strawman fallacy, and pareidolia.
High School Worksheets and Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 8-12 about critical thinking, the appeal to nature fallacy, correlation versus causation, the placebo effect, and weasel words.
Statistical Shenanigans Worksheets and Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 9 and up the statistical principles they need to analyze data rationally.
Printable Logical Fallacy Handbook
A printable PDF explaining 20 common logical fallacies with real-world examples. Recommended for teens and adults.