The [i]liar's guessing game[/i] is a game played between two players $A$ and $B$. The rules of the game depend on two positive integers $k$ and $n$ which are known to both players. At the start of the game $A$ chooses integers $x$ and $N$ with $1 \le x \le N.$ Player $A$ keeps $x$ secret, and truthfully tells $N$ to player $B$. Player $B$ now tries to obtain information about $x$ by asking player $A$ questions as follows: each question consists of $B$ specifying an arbitrary set $S$ of positive integers (possibly one specified in some previous question), and asking $A$ whether $x$ belongs to $S$. Player $B$ may ask as many questions as he wishes. After each question, player $A$ must immediately answer it with [i]yes[/i] or [i]no[/i], but is allowed to lie as many times as she wants; the only restriction is that, among any $k+1$ consecutive answers, at least one answer must be truthful. After $B$ has asked as many questions as he wants, he must specify a set $X$ of at most $n$ positive integers. If $x$ belongs to $X$, then $B$ wins; otherwise, he loses. Prove that: 1. If $n \ge 2^k,$ then $B$ can guarantee a win. 2. For all sufficiently large $k$, there exists an integer $n \ge (1.99)^k$ such that $B$ cannot guarantee a win. [i]Proposed by David Arthur, Canada[/i]

The [i]liar's guessing game[/i] is a game played between two players $A$ and $B$. The rules of the game depend on two positive integers $k$ and $n$ which are known to both players. At the start of the game $A$ chooses integers $x$ and $N$ with $1 \le x \le N.$ Player $A$ keeps $x$ secret, and truthfully tells $N$ to player $B$. Player $B$ now tries to obtain information about $x$ by asking player $A$ questions as follows: each question consists of $B$ specifying an arbitrary set $S$ of positive integers (possibly one specified in some previous question), and asking $A$ whether $x$ belongs to $S$. Player $B$ may ask as many questions as he wishes. After each question, player $A$ must immediately answer it with [i]yes[/i] or [i]no[/i], but is allowed to lie as many times as she wants; the only restriction is that, among any $k+1$ consecutive answers, at least one answer must be truthful. After $B$ has asked as many questions as he wants, he must specify a set $X$ of at most $n$ positive integers. If $x$ belongs to $X$, then $B$ wins; otherwise, he loses. Prove that: 1. If $n \ge 2^k,$ then $B$ can guarantee a win. 2. For all sufficiently large $k$, there exists an integer $n \ge (1.99)^k$ such that $B$ cannot guarantee a win. [i]Proposed by David Arthur, Canada[/i]

A Magician and a Detective play a game. The Magician lays down cards numbered from $1$ to $52$ face-down on a table. On each move, the Detective can point to two cards and inquire if the numbers on them are consecutive. The Magician replies truthfully. After a finite number of moves, the Detective points to two cards. She wins if the numbers on these two cards are consecutive, and loses otherwise. Prove that the Detective can guarantee a win if and only if she is allowed to ask at least $50$ questions. [i]Proposed by Anant Mudgal[/i]

There is a rectangular sheet of paper on an infinite blackboard. Marvin secretly chooses a convex $2024$-gon $P$ that lies fully on the piece of paper. Tigerin wants to find the vertices of $P$. In each step, Tigerin can draw a line $g$ on the blackboard that is fully outside the piece of paper, then Marvin replies with the line $h$ parallel to $g$ that is the closest to $g$ which passes through at least one vertex of $P$. Prove that there exists a positive integer $n$, independent of the choice of the polygon, such that Tigerin can always determine the vertices of $P$ in at most $n$ steps.

Ana and Banana are playing a game. Initially, Ana secretly picks a number $1\leq A\leq 10^6$. In each subsequent turn of the game, Banana may pick a positive integer $B$, and Ana will reveal to him the most common digit in the product $A\cdot B$ (written in decimal notation). In the case when at least two digits are tied for being the most common, Ana will reveal all of them to Banana. For example, if $A\cdot B=2022$, Ana will tell Banana that the digit $2$ is the most common, while if $A\cdot B=5783783$, Ana will reveal that $3, 7$ and $8$ are the most common. Banana's goal is to determine with certainty the number $A$ after some number of turns. Does he have a winning strategy?