This Is NOT 50/50

The easiest fair games depend on equal, binary outcomes like flipping a coin or drawing a playing card that can only be either red or black. If a game depends on both players choosing an equally-probable outcome, how can one player have a massive advantage over the other?

Welcome to the Humble-Nishiyama Randomness Game, a variant of Walter Penney’s classic demonstration of the power of non-transitivity in simple games. In a straightforward transitive situation, A beats B and B beats C -- which means A beats C, too. But if A beats B, B beats C, and C beats A… we’ve gone non-transitive just like Rock, Paper, Scissors. By jumping into the non-transitive game loop at the most advantageous point, Player 2 can become an overwhelming favorite every time. It looks like dumb luck, but it’s really just smart math.

*** SOURCES ***

“Penney Ante: Counterintuitive Probabilities in Coin Tossing,” by RS Nickerson: http://www.math.unl.edu/~sdunbar1/ProbabilityTheory/BackgroundPapers/Penney%20ante/PenneyAnte_CounterintuitiveProbabilities.pdf

“Humble-Nishiyama Randomness Game - A New Variation on Penney's Coin Game,” by Steve Humble and Yutaka Nishiyama: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.177.1176

"Probability of a tossed coin landing on edge,” by Daniel B. Murray and Scott W. Teare: https://journals.aps.org/pre/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.2547

"Antibiotic-mediated antagonism leads to a bacterial game of rock–paper–scissors in vivo,” by Benjamin C. Kirkup & Margaret A. Riley: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature02429

*** LINKS ***

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Hosted and Produced by Kevin Lieber
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Research And Writing by Matthew Tabor
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Editing by AspectScience
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BetaSeries' opinion

Rediscover the Hilarious World of '=3': A Must-Watch YouTube Sensation

In the vast universe of online entertainment, few shows have made as much impact as "=3". Hosted initially by the charismatic Ray William Johnson, this YouTube web series quickly became a staple for comedy lovers around the globe. With its unique format that combined viral video commentary with sharp wit, "=3" captured the hearts of millions. As it evolved through various hosts like Robby Motz and Kaja Martin, its legacy continued to influence internet culture in profound ways.

The show's inception can be traced back to a time when YouTube was burgeoning with creativity and innovation. Ray William Johnson's dynamic presence and clever humor created an unmatched viewing experience that resonated with audiences seeking laughter and entertainment. His ability to dissect viral videos with humorous insights made "=3" not just a show but a weekly ritual for many fans.

After Ray stepped down in March 2014, Robby Motz took over hosting duties, bringing his own flair while maintaining the essence of what made "=3" so beloved. Although some viewers were skeptical at first, Robby's charm eventually won them over, keeping the fan base engaged and entertained. However, transitions are never easy in long-running shows; when Kaja Martin became the host in July 2015, she faced challenges in retaining viewership amidst changing internet trends.

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