# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 179
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3561 "2025-06-26T19:41:35Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Like I said, there would be a group of dopers that would see it and be, “Got it!” Yes. I will sit out this one. But good luck to everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3562 "2025-06-26T19:43:59Z")
More about that set of Dopers who would recognize this easily: Are they from a particular geographical area? Of a particular age? Players of a particular game? Audience of a particular book/movie/show/song/etc? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3563 "2025-06-26T19:58:41Z")
So is it true that when you said you saw 4045 and were disappointed, you also saw two other numbers, but the presence of the 4045 rendered them irrelevant? ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3564 "2025-06-26T20:20:16Z")
is it board game? dice game? card game? video game? sports game? drinking game? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3565 "2025-06-26T21:20:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > More about that set of Dopers who would recognize this easily: Are they from a particular geographical area? Of a particular age? Players of a particular game? Audience of a particular book/movie/show/song/etc? None of the above > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > So is it true that when you said you saw 4045 and were disappointed, you also saw two other numbers, but the presence of the 4045 rendered them irrelevant? Kind of. In spirit I will say yes but the way you wrote the question technically no. > [@Nauplius](#): > > is it board game? > dice game? > card game? > video game? > sports game? > drinking game? None of the above ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3566 "2025-06-26T21:23:06Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Yes. I will sit out this one. But good luck to everyone else. I’m curious. If you know about the numbers did you figure out what I’m doing? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3567 "2025-06-26T21:39:51Z")
So you’re playing a game, presumably a gambling game since you said you expected to benefit financially from seeing the right numbers. But you _wouldn’t_ necessarily expect other players of that game to be able to easily answer your question. Is that all right? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3568 "2025-06-26T21:41:43Z")
Do all of the number sequences you would expect to see in this context contain exactly four digits and start with 4? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3569 "2025-06-26T21:50:42Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m curious. If you know about the numbers did you figure out what I’m doing? Yes. I think so. In my younger days… ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3570 "2025-06-26T22:35:02Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Do all of the number sequences you would expect to see in this context contain exactly four digits and start with 4? yes > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > But you _wouldn’t_ necessarily expect other players of that game to be able to easily answer your question. Is that all right? I’m not sure what you’re asking ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3571 "2025-06-26T22:50:16Z")
You said that you thought that some subset of Dopers would quickly recognize this answer. Later, you said that this subset wasn’t “Players of a particular game”. So, it sounds like you’re saying that you’re playing a game, but that other people who are familiar with this game are no more likely to be able to solve the puzzle than people who aren’t. Is that accurate? (I suppose it could also mean that the game is one almost everyone is familiar with) Are you playing this game in a casino? Does this involve cybercurrency in any way? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3572 "2025-06-26T22:52:52Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > but that other people who are familiar with this game are no more likely to be able to solve the puzzle than people who aren’t. I would say that they have a slight advantage. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Are you playing this game in a casino? Let’s say yes. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Does this involve cybercurrency in any way? No ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3573 "2025-06-26T22:59:00Z")
Are you gambling on some sporting event, or other competition involving people not personally known to you? (and if so, sports or other?) Would every person playing this game also be thinking of 4-digit sequences starting with 4? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3574 "2025-06-26T23:01:33Z")
Is it relevant that all the “disappointing” numbers have a 0 in the second digit? Is it relevant that only the “happy” number contained a 9? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3575 "2025-06-26T23:09:38Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Are you gambling on some sporting event, or other competition involving people not personally known to you? (and if so, sports or other?) no > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Would every person playing this game also be thinking of 4-digit sequences starting with 4? no > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Is it relevant that all the “disappointing” numbers have a 0 in the second digit? > Is it relevant that only the “happy” number contained a 9? No and no ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3576 "2025-06-27T13:41:25Z")
Is there some arithmetical/mathematical connection about the numbers? Like they add up, or evenly divide? Is the fact that you saw 3 of the 4490’s important, or would one 4490 also make you happy? Can you confirm that its not the actual numbers that are relevant, but rather an item that is identified by the number that causes you disappointment or joy? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3577 "2025-06-27T14:13:45Z")
Would all players of the game have been happy/disappointed by the same numbers as you? Would some of them? When you were disappointed, would one expect there to be some other player who was happy? And vice-versa? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3578 "2025-06-27T14:16:43Z")
Did you choose those numbers as numbers you would be happy/disappointed with, before you saw them? Would it be possible to make a reasonably educated guess as to which numbers you’d be more likely to see, before you saw them? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3579 "2025-06-27T23:01:19Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Is there some arithmetical/mathematical connection about the numbers? Like they add up, or evenly divide? No > [@Sigene](#): > > Is the fact that you saw 3 of the 4490’s important, Very important > [@Sigene](#): > > Can you confirm that its not the actual numbers that are relevant, but rather an item that is identified by the number that causes you disappointment or joy? Can confirm > [@Chronos](#): > > Would all players of the game have been happy/disappointed by the same numbers as you? Would some of them? Yes > [@Chronos](#): > > When you were disappointed, would one expect there to be some other player who was happy? And vice-versa? Nope > [@Chronos](#): > > Did you choose those numbers as numbers you would be happy/disappointed with, before you saw them? Nope > [@Chronos](#): > > Would it be possible to make a reasonably educated guess as to which numbers you’d be more likely to see, before you saw them? I would say yes. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3580 "2025-06-27T23:06:15Z")
And as a clarification after that last round of questions: I said “I saw a 4045” I did not say “I saw 4045”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=178) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=180)