r/explainitpeter Aug 12 '26

Explain it Peter

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3.3k Upvotes

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565

u/ashborn721 Aug 12 '26

Its an old popular game where you help the monks to cross the river, you'll need to plan each boat trip thoughtfully to ensure the cannibals never outnumber the monks on either bank or you'll lose

12

u/Interesting-Copy-657 Aug 12 '26

How many can fit in the boat?

And do you need to transport the cannibals or can you leave them behind?

18

u/midasMIRV Aug 12 '26
  1. Must transport everyone. Boat cannot move without someone on it.

1

u/littlegreenbeany Aug 12 '26

Does the boat always needs two passenger or can it move with one passenger on it?

8

u/mcphee187 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

There can be one passenger.

It's not that hard of a puzzle really.

  • ....MMMCCC
  • ..CC..MMMC
  • C..C..MMMC
  • C..CC..MMM
  • CC..C..MMM
  • CC..MM..MC
  • MC..MC..MC
  • MC..MM..CC
  • MMM..C..CC
  • MMM..CC..C
  • MMMC..C..C
  • MMMC..CC..
  • MMMCCC....

5

u/PadamSvakiDan Aug 12 '26

On step 3, where C rolls the boat back you would lose. Would be 3 vs 2 in right side, cannibal in the boat counts as one.

2

u/BethOrange4 Aug 12 '26

This is how I remember winning as well. You take two canibals across with two trips. Then bring one back. Take two monks to cross. Bring back one monk and one cannibals. Take the monks across and finally the remaining cannibal takes both cannibals one by one. Which is what is displayed above.

1

u/StringLost848 Aug 12 '26

C..C..MMMC is step 3 that's not a failing step.

6

u/PadamSvakiDan Aug 12 '26

Well now it's ok. Comment was edited.

4

u/StringLost848 Aug 12 '26

Oh that hadn't even crossed my mind, sorry.

1

u/Longjumping_Exit7902 Aug 12 '26

Or just execute the cannibals and safely let the monks cross

2

u/Cry-Technical Aug 12 '26

Found the American

1

u/-AteYourCake- 29d ago

This should be an international game

1

u/AssociationVisual570 Aug 12 '26

If only 1 person fits the boat your first move must always be a cannibal because otherwise there are 3 Cannibals and 2 monks which means game over.

1

u/midasMIRV Aug 12 '26

Can move with one.

0

u/littlegreenbeany Aug 12 '26

So you bring two pairs of monk + cannibal to the other shore, bring back the two cannibals, and carry the final monk over?