Problem 44630. Guess the number I'm thinking of (Part 1)

In some cases, it would be strategically beneficial to guess the same number as one of your opponents. For example, if they guess 7 and 9, for example, you would generally earn more points guessing 7 than any other number, as you would earn an extra half point from the draw if the number is 7 or 8 (which is a three-way draw) and not lose any of the full points if the number is 1-6.

Hi, James. That may be a valid point ...when playing with different rules.   I deliberately set the constraint that all three guesses (from the three contestants) must be different. If my constraint were removed, then you would have freedom to implement that strategy; it would also mean you'd have to handle the situation of your opponents choosing the same number.   However, I personally would not be scoring a three-way draw the same as a two-way draw. Consider if each person pays $1 into a 'prize pool' to enter: if you achieve a two-way draw, then you get back $1.50 (a 50¢ profit); but in a three-way draw nobody would get any profit, and hence I would be scoring it as if that 'game' never happened.   —DIV

Understood, and I agree that a three-way draw (not possible with the current rule set) should definitely be scored differently than a two-way draw.

My code worked, although not quite as well as Tim's. I'll have to check the algorithms he used to generate his solution, and see how it differs from mine.