JonC 101 / Brainteaser Collection / 999 Execution Circle
Question

You were enjoying a pleasant weekend on a luxury cruise liner when your ship was captured by pirates. These pirates don't like to take so many prisoners, so they decide to execute all... but one of you.

In a circle around a big pillar, the pirates have labeled 1000 positions, from 1 to 1000. Each captured passenger (including you!) is to choose one of the positions and stand under the respective number.

Once all passengers are in place, the pirates execute passenger #1. They then execute every OTHER person. So passenger #3 is next. They continue killing every other person, even continuing around the circle until finally 999 pasengers have been executed and only 1 is left, who is spared.

Assuming you actually want to be the one who lives, which numbered position will you choose?

Demo Application
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Number of Victims
Instructions