As you stroll through the aisles of a fairground, a small, unassuming stall catches your eye. At the back is a whole wall of lots, including a lava lamp that would look great on your entryway pedestal table. In front are two large vases, open at the top but whose contents cannot be seen.
You approach and the fairgrounds begins to explain the rules of their game. In each of the two jars there are four balls: two black and two white. So there are eight balls in total. When the game starts, you can reach into the jars to pull out six balls. If you get exactly three balls of each color, you win. Otherwise, the lamp stays on the back wall.
Of course, the balls are indistinguishable by touch, but you are free to adapt your shots on the fly. For example, if you hit your first ball into the right vase, you can choose to hit the second ball to the right or left depending on what you get.
You’re becoming more and more convinced that this lamp belongs in your entryway, but you’re only entitled to one test drive! How can you maximize your chances of getting it right?
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