Mathematicians have worked out the optimal strategy for Guess Who?

image via New Scientist

August 11, 2025, 2:00 PM

• •Mathematicians have devised a winning strategy for the board game Guess Who? that involves asking questions that create logical paradoxes.
• •The strategy involves working backwards from simpler scenarios using mathematical induction.
• •Certain scenarios require special rules, such as splitting options unevenly.
• •This approach allows players to gain more information than typical questions, although it bends the official rules.

Mathematicians have developed a strategy to win Guess Who? by using logical paradoxes within questions, deviating from typical bipartite questions. This method involves working backwards from simpler scenarios and applying special rules in specific situations. The approach, though effective, demands a nuanced understanding of the game's mechanics. While potentially challenging for casual players, it offers a more efficient way to gain information compared to standard question formats.

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