Test your probability skills with this combined dice and card expected value game often encountered in trading interviews
Instructions
- 1 Cards and dice are placed face-down on the table
- 2 Answer pre-game questions about standard deviation
- 3 The game quotes a market for the product of card and dice values
- 4 Calculate expected value and decide whether to buy or sell
- 5 Cards and dice are revealed, then hidden – calculate your profit/loss
Dice and Cards Market Taking Game Explanation
Cards and dice are often the central topic in trading interview questions. In this game, we are considering an expected value game involving both cards and dice.
Game Elements
- Cards can have values 2-10, Jack (11), Queen (12), King (13), and Ace (either 1 or 14).
- Dice have values 1-6.
- The market quotes a price for the product of all card and dice values.
Settings
- Number of cards (1 or 2).
- Number of dice (1 or 2).
- Value of Ace (Lowest or Highest).
You’ll start the game with 500,000 points.
How to Play
- Initial Setup
Based on your settings, 1 or 2 card(s) and 1 or 2 dice will be on the table, not showing their value. - Pre-Game Questions
The game will ask you typical interview questions about standard deviation before the game starts. - Offer to trade
The game will quote for the product of the cards’ face values and dice’s face values. For example if you play with 2 cards and 2 dice, with card values {3, 11} and dice values {2, 4}, then the value of the table is equal to 3 × 11 × 2 × 4 = 264. - Buy or Sell
Calculate your expected value and decide whether to buy or sell. - Reveal Card(s) and Dice
The card(s) and dice will be revealed for a customizable X seconds, and then turned face-down again. - Profit/Loss
Compute your actual profit or loss and submit it.
Scoring
- Correct Profit: Added to your total points.
- Correct Loss: Subtracted from your total points.
- Incorrect Profit: No change in total points.
- Incorrect Loss: Double the loss is subtracted from your total.
Note: Cards are not replaced, altering the expected value calculations over time.
📚 Want a deeper dive? Check out the full lesson and explanation →
This game is independently developed by Trading Interview B.V. and is protected intellectual property. This proprietary tool is provided for student interview preparation only and may not be reproduced or reverse-engineered.
