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Puzzle | 5 Pirates and 100 Gold Coins

Last Updated : 02 Aug, 2025
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Five pirates have to divide 100 gold coins among themselves. Each pirate has a different rank based on seniority:
Pirate A is the most senior, followed by B, then C, then D, and finally Pirate E, who is the most junior.
Rules of distribution are: 

  • The most senior pirate proposes a distribution of coins.
  • All pirates vote on whether to accept the distribution.
  • The distribution is approved if at least half of the pirates agree (including the proposer)
  • If the distribution is accepted, the coins are disbursed, and the game ends.
  • If not, the proposer is thrown and dies, and the next most senior pirate makes a new proposal to begin the system again.
  • In case of a tie vote, the proposer can have the casting vote

Rules every pirate follows:

  • Every pirate wants to survive
  • Given survival, each pirate wants to maximise the number of gold coins he receives.
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What is the maximum number of coins that pirate A might get? 

Check if you were right - full answer with solution below.

Solution: 

"The answer is 98 which is not intuitive. A uses the facts below to get 98.

  • Consider the situation when A, B, and C die, only D and E are left.
  • E knows that he will not get anything (D is senior and will make a distribution of (100, 0). So E would be fine with anything greater than 0.
  • Consider the situation when A and B die, C, D, and E are left.
  • D knows that he will not get anything (C will make a distribution of (99, 0, 1)and E will vote in favor of C).
  • Consider the situation when A dies. B, C, D, and E are left.
  • To survive, B only needs to give 1 coin to D. So distribution is (99, 0, 1, 0)
  • Similarly, A knows about point 3, so he just needs to give 1 coin to C and 1 coin to E to get them in favor. So distribution is (98, 0, 1, 0, 1).

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