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Can you explain the con and how to exploit it? Seems interesting.

• Tushon 11y ago
  Suggested viewing: documentary about that day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzNMCXWCZzQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzNMCXWCZzQ
• minimaxir 11y ago
  Wikipedia has a good written summary of the con: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Larson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Larson The linked documentary is well worth watching, though.
  • emehrkay 11y ago
    Thank you, I tired watching the video, but wasn't that invested in the whole thing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Larson#Preparations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Larson#Preparations). That was pretty straight-forward and kinda simple. I wonder why the selections and big money squares were not randomized, could it had been a computing limitation?
    • minimaxir 11y ago
      > I wonder why the selections and big money squares were not randomized, could it had been a computing limitation? Keep in mind that this happened in 1984. The board squares were physical panels, and the panel selection software was analog. In gaming, a random outcome is one the player can't accurately predict or influence. The Press Your Luck board at the time fit that definition, but Larson proved that was not a safe assumption.
  • jamesbrownuhh 11y ago
    Agreed about the documentary. I don't think it's fair to describe this as a "con", though. Larson merely spotted a consistency in the game, and played it to maximum effect. All perfectly within the rules and regulations, no deception or "con" involved - and hence no reason for CBS not to pay out, which they did. As the documentary points out, they just didn't think that anyone would be able to "aim and hit" the square they wanted - but they were mistaken, and paid for that complacency. They did not make the mistake a second time.