A SKIT: The skit has two parts, a "W.C. Fields type swindler" and a "College Kid". The scene is a gate at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Swindler: Hey college kid, what are you doing?
College Kid: I'm flying back from Boston. I took one of those "earn up to $50 and hour" jobs, but it didn't work out. I'm waiting for a flight to Denver which is two hours overdue.
Swindler: Hey, I'm waiting for the same flight. Want to do something to pass the time?
College Kid: Sure, but what?
Swindler: Want to play a game?
College Kid: What sort of game?
Swindler: How about even-and-odd?
College Kid: What's that?
Swindler: I'll be odd, because I'm so odd. And you be even.
College Kid: I like being even.
Swindler: That's just the way I like it. Now here's how we play. We both count "one-two-three". At "three", we each hold up one or two fingers. If the sum of the fingers is even, you win and I pay you the sum. However if the sum of the fingers is odd, I win and you give me the sum.
College Kid: So it's a gambling game.
Swindler: Yep, the most interesting games are.
College Kid: I like gambling. I been to those new casinos in Central City and Blackhawk. I do real well, though I always lose money in the end.
Swindler: Great!
College Kid: Is this game fair?
Swindler: Every game is fair to someone. You can win either $2 or $4. I can only win $3. So you have two way of winning to my one.
College Kid: So I'll make money! I like this game.
Swindler: So you want a play?
College Kid: You bet!
They now proceed to play.
Within your group of four, divide up into two pairs to play this game. You will be playing with your partner for ~ 5 minutes, then you will switch and play with the other person in your group for ~ 5 more minutes.
These are the questions you will need to answer when you come back from your pairs and join your group of four:
Who seems to win most of the time?
Why do you think this is so?
What is the probability that the even person will win a round?
What is the probability that the odd person will win a round?
What is the optimal strategy for each player?