MathDB
2000 HMMT RMT General #6

Source:

March 8, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

Three cards, only one of which is an ace, are placed face down on a table. You select one, but do not look at it. The dealer turns over one of the other cards, which is not the ace (if neither are, he picks one of them randomly to turn over). You get a chance to change your choice and pick either of the remaining two face-down cards. If you selected the cards so as to maximize the chance of finding the ace on the second try, what is the probability that you selected it on the (a) first try? (b) second try?