There is a brilliant quiz taking place on ruby-talk: You are supposed to write an bot to play Rock, Scissors, Paper.
I had sent in these players (Arranged in strength, in local tests most winning first):
CNBiasInverter: Choose so that your bias will be the inverted opponent’s bias.
CNIrrflug: Pick a random choice. If you win, use it again; else, use a random choice.
CNStepAhead: Try to think a step ahead. If you win, use the choice where you’d have lost. If you lose, you the choice where you’d have won. Use the same on draw.
CNBiasFlipper: Always use the choice that hits what the opponent said most or second-to-most often (if the most often choice is not absolutely prefered).
CNBiasBreaker: Always use the choice that hits what the opponent said most often.
CNMeanPlayer: Pick a random choice. If you win, use it again; else, use the opponent’s choice.
It was a great fun, and the contest is still running for this week. Sit down and code!
NP: Dan Bern—Crossroads