Kings And Queens May Cling To Power

Kings and queens may cling to power
and the jester’s got his call
But, as you may all discover,
the common one outranks them all

An ace (in a deck of cards).

Posted in Riddles

Blow for Blow They Matched Each Other

Blow for blow,
they matched each other.
Neither would fall to the other.
In the eyes of the crowd,
they were this.

Equal.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles
Tagged with

At Least One is a Boy

A couple has two children. At least one of them is a boy. Assuming the probability of having a boy or girl is 50%, what is the probability that both children are boys?

If you answered 1/2, you’re not without comrades, but the generally accepted answer by statisticians (though not without debate) is 1/3. This is because there are four possible combinations: boy-boy, boy-girl, girl-boy and girl-girl. Since we are told one of the children is a boy (but we don’t know if it’s the first or second child), we can rule out the girl-girl combination, leaving three remaining options. Only one out of 3 is boy-boy, so we get a 1/3 chance.

This is a well-known problem known as the Boy or Girl paradox. The other variation is this brain teaser.

Posted in Brain Teasers

In School Without Learning

I’m in school without learning,
And control from the middle.

What am I?

A fish. They swim in schools and the fish in the middle of a school control the school. The fish on the outside are guided by those in the middle.

Posted in Riddles
Tagged with

I Am Two-faced, But Bear One Head

I am two-faced, but bear one head.
Men spill their blood for me.
I have no legs but travel widely.
I make kings immortal.
I am potent when shared,
Yet lust for my power keeps me locked away.

What am I?

Money (coins specifically). Coins have two faces, heads and tails. People fight for money, and money travels far and wide. Kings live on when they’re depticted on a coin. Sharing money with others is a meaningful experience yet many people keep their money locked up.

Posted in Riddles

Cornelius and the Flat Tire

Cornelius got a flat tire on a miserable, rainy day. As he was changing it on the side of the road, he placed the four lug nuts in the overturned hub cap. As our dear friend was moving back to put on the spare, he accidentally bumped the hub cap. He watched helplessly as all four lug nuts rolled into a deep sewer and were whisked away. Then our friend had a brilliant solution and within minutes was driving safely away.

What was his solution?

He removed one lug nut from each of the other 3 tires and used them to secure the spare tire, then drove to a tire shop.

Posted in Brain Teasers

A House With No Doors

I am in a house with no doors. There are people inside but give no reply. Who am I?

A fish. A fish bowl or aquarium is the fish’s house and the people inside are the decorative divers that offer no reply (one might ask how the fish knows, given that they aren’t a talkative bunch themselves).

Posted in Riddles

Wench and Warrior

Round and round and round it goes,
The source but not the birth of clothes,
Wench and warrior, child and crone,
Without it dressed near barer bone.

A spinning wheel. It goes around in circles and makes the thread that is used in clothing and anyone who isn’t wearing clothes would be barer boned.

Posted in Riddles

Alive Without Breath

Alive without breath,
As cold as death,
Clad in mail never clinking,
Never thirsty, ever drinking

A fish.

Posted in Riddles

Reaching As High As Your Neck

Reaching as high as your neck, waist, or knees,
The going gets slower when wading through these.

What are they?

Shallows

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles