The Coin Flip: A Fundamentally Unfair Proposition?

[a 1 player]

Here are the broad strokes of their research:

1. If the coin is tossed and caught, it has about a 51% chance of landing on the same face it was launched. (If it starts out as heads, there's a 51% chance it will end as heads).
2. If the coin is spun, rather than tossed, it can have a much-larger-than-50% chance of ending with the heavier side down. Spun coins can exhibit "huge bias" (some spun coins will fall tails-up 80% of the time).
3. If the coin is tossed and allowed to clatter to the floor, this probably adds randomness.
4. If the coin is tossed and allowed to clatter to the floor where it spins, as will sometimes happen, the above spinning bias probably comes into play.
5. A coin will land on its edge around 1 in 6000 throws, creating a flipistic singularity.
6. The same initial coin-flipping conditions produce the same coin flip result. That is, there's a certain amount of determinism to the coin flip.
7. A more robust coin toss (more revolutions) decreases the bias.

http://www.codingthewheel.com/archives/the-coin-flip-a-fundamentally-unfair-proposition

 

[Shallow Throat]

This looks like one of those government studies we keep paying for.

 

[Yoga Face]

I saw a professional dice tosser

He can take random chance out of the dice throw and turn the odds in his favor

His trick is to minimize the dice roll after they hit the table by using the right tossing angle and speed

When he gets on a roll the staff will pat him on the back to wish him good luck but they are really hoping the contact will throw him off his game

 

[Keebler Elf]

Dunno why they'd bother. They can just toss him if they think he's manipulating the dice roll.

 

[Yoga Face]

Dunno why they'd bother. They can just toss him if they think he's manipulating the dice roll.

He is not breaking any of the house rules so I do not think they can

Same with card counters which is why they use so many decks now and then reshuffle half way through

I believe this issue went to court but depends on the state I suspect

 

[Gyaos]

Here are the broad strokes of their research:
http://www.codingthewheel.com/archives/the-coin-flip-a-fundamentally-unfair-proposition

Dude,

The math is all wrong in that proposition (.50 - x), and fully contradicted by Parrondo's paradox (get ready to enhance your mind, if you really know math):

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~langton/Parrondo/

Gyaos Baltar.

 

[themexi]

I saw that on TV, on discovery or learning channel, very interesting show. The angle of throw and minimizing the roll after it hits the back board is the key!

The trick behind it is the same discipline as building a good golf swing, football throw, etc... Optimizing the environment & tools & maintaining as close to 100% consistency in movement as possible...

-If you hold the dice exactly the same way in your hand every time
-Hold your body in the exact same position every time
-Make the exact same throwing motion with the same amount of speed & force every time

-While:
-Making sure whatever table you're playing at is as close to identical in height, length, composition etc... Or practice with each type enough that you can make calibrated adjustments... The key is to make it as mechanical & procedural & automatic as possible.

-The closer you can get to managing to maintain %100 consistency, the higher your probability of getting the desired outcome... Every little bit of consistency you can bring to the table will increase your odds & once you have shown yourself that you can reliably improve your odds to be equal with the game or a little better you have a chance at being golden....

** It also helps to have a ring with a couple small chainlinks on the back of the ring finger.... when you hold the dice in your hand make sure the loose links are in between them so while you're shaking your hand about it sonds like the dice are rattling in there when they're actually held tight in optimum position.....

In boardgames that rely on dice I pretty regularly kick peoples asses through the goalposts....

 

[serviceman]

Speaking of odds, I have always wondered when opening or closing window blinds, you have a 50% chance of pulling the correct cord to either open or close the blinds, but it seems the wrong cord is pulled 99% of the time.

Or is this just me?

 

[tboy]

I found out about the coin flipping thing years and years ago. I worked at a big corporation and this was back when a coffee cart came around. I'd flip with two older guys and the odd man out would have to pay.

I lost a LOT until I found out they were both starting out with the same side up.

With practise, you can "win" 9 times out of 10. I think this is why "call it in the air" was brought about because you have no control over it at that point. The thing is, if you DO call it in the air and the person called the side you had up, you can fumble it to cancel the 'sure thing'.