How many of you know the game Petals Around the Rose?

You can find a web version of it here: http://www.borrett.id.au/computing/petals-j.htm But it can be played anywhere you have five dice.

Rules:
1. The name of the game is Petals Around the Rose.
2. The name of the game is important.
3. The answer will always be zero or an even number.

Go there, hit Roll Dice, and guess a number. The results will tell you if you're right, or the right number if you were wrong. Come back here once you figure it out.

No cheating by looking it up on Google.

Gah.

At least read a story that goes along with the game. That's how I came across it, because it involves Bill Gates, and his attempt to figure it out.

http://www.borrett.id.au/computing/petals-bg.htm

I'm feeling quite stupid.

I have it.

Great. You got it in a pretty good time.

And how long did it take you?

Fun puzzle. Got it - took me 15 minutes, 5 of that was reading the Gates story. I'm looking forward to messing up my brother's mind with this one. Maybe it'll take over his 50th b-day party this weekend!

Thanks for the link Chris

Took me about 2 hours. I read the Gates story, but didn't have the JavaScript game at the time, so I could only base my hypotheses off of the throws contained in it. I also continued to think about it as I did other things. It was a real duh moment when I finally got it. Of course I was over thinking things.

Took me a bit longer, about 30 mins. The Gates story is cool.

I forget how long it took me. 15 minutes, or so, Ken? Thought I had it in 5 when I got 3 in a row, but my next few guesses were wrong.

The name of the game is important.

That was one other thing, when I first heard of it, the Bill Gates story was in a text file, with no pictures.

A bit more than 15, I think. Maybe 30.

Wow, I feel gifted... took 4 rolls to get it.

But, gimme a Sudoku and I'd rather set the paper on fire than solve it. :P

Bren R.

I like Sudoku. Makes a fine airport and plane companion.

Sudoku and Minesweeper have never been friends of mine.

Mental puzzles - good.
Math puzzles - not so good.

I guess I'm better at being mental than mathy.

Bren R.

Sudoku isn't a math puzzle. The original Japanese version just used four different characters. Only when it was brought to the West did the numeric symbols come into use.

I competed in the Google/DaVinci Code contest (So Dark the Con of Man). One of the rounds was a Sudoku puzzle, but using ancient symbols.

Got it!

I failed miserably the first few rolls, then I read the story and your comments here and then tried not to over think it. Then got all the rolls right.

I tried at 3 AM for 45 minutes and managed to get a number of rolls right but nothing consistent, got up in the morning and wondered how I messed up the night before. I think I was doing it right the night before, must have been really sleep deprived; the amazing powers of getting some sleep.

I too enjoy Sudoku, Peter. Have you tried Mega Sudoku (it has the numbers 1-9 and letters A-G), or heard of Kakuro? They're great games too.

I also do Crosswords, Play Four, and Cricker; all of which are available for free, daily, on The Washington Post website in the "Arts & Living" section. I enjoy Jumble's as well.

Okay, since we are on this subject, that is how I do virtually all of my music listening--while doing crosswords and variety puzzles. For whatever reason I find it the perfect activity to keep part of my mind engaged while I sit still and I can pay attention to the music without getting lost in the puzzles.

Hunh. I've got to try that. I usually get bored and wander off if I try to just listen.

I use Bejeweled 3 to listen to music. A lot of music.

Ken, I am like you and end up getting bored if I just sit there and listen to music. I seem to be okay if I am doing an activity while sitting there.

That explains your "no pants" couch.

Except my music listening session only lasts a couple minutes.