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New Scientist puzzle #60: Mexican standoff

Can you work out who will be left standing at the end of a spaghetti western shoot-out? Plus the solution to puzzle #59. Set by Rob Eastaway

20 May 2020

#60 Mexican standoff

The Good, the Bad and the Bumbling have decided the only way to resolve their differences is with a three-way duel, aka a Mexican standoff. They stand in a triangle, each armed with a gun and unlimited ammunition. As you might expect, Good has the deadliest shot: he kills his target 99 per cent of the time. Bad is more hit-and-miss: his success rate is 66 per cent. And Bumbling, in his role as the comedy relief, only fatally hits the mark 33 per cent of the time. On a count of three, each will draw their…

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