Winning at Wimbledon

As a result of temporary magical powers, you have made it to the Wimbledon finals and are playing Roger Federer for all the marbles. However, your powers cannot last the whole match. What score do you want it to be when they disappear, to maximize your chances of hanging on for a win?

It sounds obvious that you should ask to be ahead two sets to love (it takes 3 out of 5 sets to win
the men’s), and in the third set, ahead 5-0 in games and 40-love in the sixth game. (Probably you
want to be serving, but if your serve is like mine, you might prefer Roger to be serving the sixth
game down 0-40 so that you can pray for a double fault.)

Not so fast! These solutions give you essentially 3 chances to get lucky and win, but you can
get six chances—with three services by you and three by Roger. You still want to be up two sets
to none, but let the game score be 6-6 in the third set and 6-0—in your favor, of course—in the
tiebreaker.

Credit goes to Peter Winkler for creating this.

Posted in Brain Teasers

The Rooster

A rooster lays an egg at the very top of a slanted roof. Which side is the egg going to roll off on?

Neither, roosters don’t lay eggs.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Found On a Hand And Also a Tree

I’m found on a hand and also a tree,
You’ll find me on Sunday, occasionally,
Records, pictures, islands and brew,
From August to Wolfgang and Sago for you.

What am I?

A Palm.

Posted in Riddles

You Hold My Tail

You hold my tail while I fish for you. What am I?

A fishing net.

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Embarrassing List

A woman gave a man a list of things she needed to buy at the store. The man gave the list back to the woman and she turned red with embarrassment. Why?

The man was a checkout clerk at the grocery store. The list was for items to get at a lingerie store.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Rarely Touched, Often Held

I’m rarely touched but often held and if you’re wise you’ll use me well. What am I?

Your tongue.

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This Is What Some People Do

This is what some people do,
For a compliment or two,
Anglers do it on a bank,
Others keep theirs in a tank.

What am I?

A fish. Some people fish for compliments, anglers are fishermen and fish live in a tank.

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Ten Men’s Strength

Ten men’s strength,
Ten men’s length,
Ten men can’t break it,
Yet a young boy walks off with it.

What am I?

A rope.

Posted in Riddles

A Charming Dimple

There are two meanings to me. With one I may need to be broken, with the other I hold on. My favorite characteristic is my charming dimple. What am I?

A tie.

Posted in Riddles

One In China

I am one in China,
Two in Indonesia,
Three in the Philippines,
None in Japan.

What am I?

The letter ‘i’.

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