Coin-matching game
Encyclopedia
A coin-matching game is a confidence trick
in which two con artists set up one victim.
The first con artist strikes up a conversation with the victim, usually while waiting somewhere. The con artist suggests matching pennies
(or other coin
s) to pass the time. The second con artist arrives and joins in, but soon leaves for a moment. The first con artist then suggests cheating
. The victim, thinking they are going to scam the second con artist, agrees to match coins each time.
When the second con artist returns and begins losing, he accuses the two of cheating and threatens to call the police. The first con artist offers a sizable sum of hush money
, and the victim pitches in. After the victim leaves, the two con artists split up the money extorted
from the victim.
In game theory
the term refers to a zero-sum
two-person game of imperfect information (not involving a third player or collusion); other variations on the name are "matching coins" or "matching pennies
".
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
in which two con artists set up one victim.
The first con artist strikes up a conversation with the victim, usually while waiting somewhere. The con artist suggests matching pennies
Matching pennies
Matching pennies is the name for a simple example game used in game theory. It is the two strategy equivalent of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Matching pennies is used primarily to illustrate the concept of mixed strategies and a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium....
(or other coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s) to pass the time. The second con artist arrives and joins in, but soon leaves for a moment. The first con artist then suggests cheating
Cheating
Cheating refers to the breaking of rules to gain advantage in a competitive situation. The rules infringed may be explicit, or they may be from an unwritten code of conduct based on morality, ethics or custom, making the identification of cheating a subjective process. Cheating can refer...
. The victim, thinking they are going to scam the second con artist, agrees to match coins each time.
When the second con artist returns and begins losing, he accuses the two of cheating and threatens to call the police. The first con artist offers a sizable sum of hush money
Hush money
Hush money is an informal term for financial incentives or rewards offered in exchange for not divulging information.Hush Money may also refer to:* Hush Money , a 1921 silent film directed by Charles Maigne...
, and the victim pitches in. After the victim leaves, the two con artists split up the money extorted
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
from the victim.
In game theory
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
the term refers to a zero-sum
Zero-sum
In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which a participant's gain of utility is exactly balanced by the losses of the utility of other participant. If the total gains of the participants are added up, and the total losses are...
two-person game of imperfect information (not involving a third player or collusion); other variations on the name are "matching coins" or "matching pennies
Matching pennies
Matching pennies is the name for a simple example game used in game theory. It is the two strategy equivalent of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Matching pennies is used primarily to illustrate the concept of mixed strategies and a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium....
".