[Misc] Mastermind

[5Ways Gull]

Here's a question for sporting masterminds :

What is the minimum number of balls you need to pot to win a snooker frame.

In normal play surely it's 20, 10 reds, 10 blacks. That's the first time you get past 74 which is > half of 147 available

 

[5Ways Gull]

What would your specialist subject be?

The music of REM. There was a bloke once just answering questions on REM, but there were lots of questions not related to their music/albums which I struggled with.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The music of REM. There was a bloke once just answering questions on REM, but there were lots of questions not related to their music/albums which I struggled with.

A band I like but sadly never got to see.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

So it would be 1, then.

I'd struggle with that to be fair.

No, it would be none potted using both my examples

The frame could be over without the winner of the frame even playing a shot if the person breaking off were to miss the reds in the pack 3 times in a row, (providing the referee had warned them that they need to hit a red ball on theit 3rd shot or forfeit the frame)

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Technically none if the opponent fouls 3 times with a ball on and is not snookered:

View attachment 159221

That's the rule i was trying to remember and made mention of in my earlier answer, i knew about the 3 missing in a row, it was the clear sight part of the rule that i was struggling to remember but knew there was something about turning down an easier shot so that bit makes more sense (been a very long time since i last played or watched snooker)

 

[jcdenton08]

I’d be very strong on Jonathan Creek, Alan Partridge or The X Files. Try me, I promise I won’t cheat

 

[Gwylan]

Mine would be neurotransmitters. Would struggle over 5HT1D-alpha and -beta to be fair, even though I've published on it. Mesulergine? What is that? Can't remember. Wiki tells me it is an agonist of dopamine D2-like receptors and serotonin 5-HT6 receptors and an antagonist of serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT7 receptors
Well, f*** me. That's me out.

Unfortunately, you're not allowed to have a specialist subject related to your job.

 

[Brovion]

Unfortunately, you're not allowed to have a specialist subject related to your job.

I know you've been on University Challenge, have you ever done/been tempted by Mastermind?

 

[Gwylan]

I know you've been on University Challenge, have you ever done/been tempted by Mastermind?

I was. But it was very embarrassing. I completely froze on my specialist subject. I chose something really stupid (the complete works of Shakespeare, which is such a vast field) but my first three choices were all rejected because they'd been done before or because they were related to my job and I chose wildly. TBF to Mastermind, they did ring me and ask me if I wanted to change my mind as it was such a big topic but I'd already spent a couple of weeks reading and re-reading every play, so I said no.

But once I was in the black chair my mind went blank and questions I could have answered at home were mysteries to me. I scored a pitiful 6 on that road. For the general knowledge, I went into the zone and scored a respectable total of 22 at the end, only four behind the winner. So, it was a respectable showing in the end.

El Presidente was in the audience, witnessing my humiliation, fortunately not too many people seem to have seen it

 

[Lenny Rider]

I’d be very strong on Jonathan Creek, Alan Partridge or The X Files. Try me, I promise I won’t cheat

What do Alan and Dave Clifton both class as a crime?

Who got shot on the last KNKY?

Corrie's Ian Puleston-Davies appeared as Alan's nemisis from school, but what was his character name?

What was the added extra to Michael's 'cup of beans'?


There you go...........

I expect 4 Phoenix Nights questions in return

 

[Lenny Rider]

Unfortunately, you're not allowed to have a specialist subject related to your job.

Found that out when I put Worthing Crematorium down.

 

[Brovion]

I was. But it was very embarrassing. I completely froze on my specialist subject. I chose something really stupid (the complete works of Shakespeare, which is such a vast field) but my first three choices were all rejected because they'd been done before or because they were related to my job and I chose wildly. TBF to Mastermind, they did ring me and ask me if I wanted to change my mind as it was such a big topic but I'd already spent a couple of weeks reading and re-reading every play, so I said no.

But once I was in the black chair my mind went blank and questions I could have answered at home were mysteries to me. I scored a pitiful 6 on that road. For the general knowledge, I went into the zone and scored a respectable total of 22 at the end, only four behind the winner. So, it was a respectable showing in the end.

El Presidente was in the audience, witnessing my humiliation, fortunately not too many people seem to have seen it

Blimey, fair play. I'm 'not bad' at quizzes (speaking as one of your occasional colleagues in Lush's all-conquering 'Magnificent Seven' REMF quiz team!), and have occasionally thought of doing Mastermind, but always chickened out.

 

[Goldstone1976]

I was. But it was very embarrassing. I completely froze on my specialist subject. I chose something really stupid (the complete works of Shakespeare, which is such a vast field) but my first three choices were all rejected because they'd been done before or because they were related to my job and I chose wildly. TBF to Mastermind, they did ring me and ask me if I wanted to change my mind as it was such a big topic but I'd already spent a couple of weeks reading and re-reading every play, so I said no.

But once I was in the black chair my mind went blank and questions I could have answered at home were mysteries to me. I scored a pitiful 6 on that road. For the general knowledge, I went into the zone and scored a respectable total of 22 at the end, only four behind the winner. So, it was a respectable showing in the end.

El Presidente was in the audience, witnessing my humiliation, fortunately not too many people seem to have seen it

Three things:

The complete works of Shakespeare? WTF were you thinking?!!
With the information you've provided, I doubt it would take very long to find the episode...
16 on the GK round is pretty bloody good

Mine?

Maybe... the wines of the Northern Rhone (or Bordeaux - this too is BIG), or the life and chess games of Bobby Fischer, or the life of Thomas Tompion, or the life and career of Sylvie Guillem? The problem is that I'd do OK on all of them, but probably not well enough to compete with a real nerd who knew only one topic incredibly deeply.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Remember Fred Housego? I recall a comedian saying was it any surprise a taxi driver won Mastermind "Specialist subject?"

"absolutely f***ing everything"

ITV did an episode of 'After They Were Famous' with Free Housego part of which involved him doing the pub quiz in The Beach Tavern in Pevensey Bay.

It went to a tie breaker and I beat him (the largest bird of prey is the Andean condor).

 

[Official Old Man]

Didn't they have a person on who was the go to person for questions on that subject. So they phoned the contestant to set the questions for themselves.

 

[Brovion]

Didn't they have a person on who was the go to person for questions on that subject. So they phoned the contestant to set the questions for themselves.

Almost. A man wanted to do Gustav Mahler as his specialist subject. So the BBC contacted the Mahler Appreciation Society and asked them if they could recommend a Mahler expert who could set the questions. They said yes and recommended ..... the prospective contestant! He was honest enough to admit it so he never got to set his own questions.

 

[Papak]

In normal play surely it's 20, 10 reds, 10 blacks. That's the first time you get past 74 which is > half of 147 available

This incorrect on so many levels.

Firstly there are 15 reds in play at the start of a frame and there is no need to pot a colour after a red.

15 x Reds = 1 point each
Yellow = 2
Green = 3
Brown = 4
Blue = 5
Pink = 6

No need pot pot the final black if one player is >7 points ahead so:

Player 1 pots 15 reds with no colours and the final yellow = 17 points

Player 2 pots Green, Brown and Blue = 12 points

Player 1 pots the pink to lead 23 to 12 and wins

There might be a more elegant way to do it for slightly less points but this is the general principle.

 

[Papak]

A Google search yielded the following:

“16 - 8 is the lowest possible score in snooker!! However, unlikely and outrageous- its possible a player could pot all 15 reds in one shot, but go in off. 4 - 0. The opponent could then pot Yellow, Green, Blue and pink, with the other guy just getting the brown.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

A Google search yielded the following:

“16 - 8 is the lowest possible score in snooker!! However, unlikely and outrageous- its possible a player could pot all 15 reds in one shot, but go in off. 4 - 0. The opponent could then pot Yellow, Green, Blue and pink, with the other guy just getting the brown.

0 - 12 surely ??

Foul from break (missing all the reds) 0-4, (opponent asks for ball to be replaced if ended in a snooker - extrememly unlikely as they would make them play from there) opponent then misses the reds in the pack again (0-8) and again ends in a snookered position , the opponent again asks for it to be replaced (again extremely unlikely), and the ref warns the player they will forfeit the frame if they miss again, and they proceed to miss once more and loses the frame with the score 0-12

 

[5Ways Gull]

This incorrect on so many levels.

Firstly there are 15 reds in play at the start of a frame and there is no need to pot a colour after a red.

15 x Reds = 1 point each
Yellow = 2
Green = 3
Brown = 4
Blue = 5
Pink = 6

No need pot pot the final black if one player is >7 points ahead so:

Player 1 pots 15 reds with no colours and the final yellow = 17 points

Player 2 pots Green, Brown and Blue = 12 points

Player 1 pots the pink to lead 23 to 12 and wins

There might be a more elegant way to do it for slightly less points but this is the general principle.

Ok I misunderstood the question. I was thinking in terms of how quickly from the start of a frame can you leave your opponent needing snookers