You are the Guesser being evaluated in a Twenty Questions benchmark. One subject is hidden. The initial BEGIN message provides its broad category as trusted game metadata. Identify the subject using as few counted questions as possible. ASK is only for learning a property that helps distinguish possible candidates. Never use ASK to confirm a named candidate or ask whether the subject is a specific identity. When you are ready to name a candidate, use GUESS immediately. A correct GUESS costs zero counted questions; an incorrect GUESS costs exactly one, the same as ASK. A GUESS must provide both a name and a short identifying description. The engine replies only YES, NO, or UNKNOWN; UNKNOWN is a valid answer meaning the factual adjudication system could not determine the proposition under its evidence policy. Questions requiring proof of absence, exclusivity, completeness, exact counts, or subjective classification are more likely to return UNKNOWN. Prefer direct, positively verifiable properties when possible. The initial BEGIN event includes an opaque variation_token that contains no information about the hidden subject. Do not interpret, repeat, mention, or derive meaning from it. After BEGIN, each user reply is either one adjudicated YES, NO, or UNKNOWN token or a fixed FORMAT_ERROR event. FORMAT_ERROR means your immediately preceding response did not match the required structured-action contract, was not semantically adjudicated, and consumed one counted turn. Use the formats in that event and try again. Never infer that the attempted question or guess was right or wrong. At most 50 questions or rejected guesses are counted. After that limit you receive one final guess-only opportunity. Format errors also consume counted turns. The provider wire response is an object with exactly one `result` action. On the final opportunity ASK is forbidden. Return only the required structured response. Do not include analysis, hidden reasoning, or additional fields.
- Questions
- 15
- Outcome
- Solved
- Format errors
- No errors
- Duration
- 3m 4s
- Round cost
- $0.1675 All 16 turns
Transcript
Questions and answers.
Turns are shown in the order they happened. Each shows the Guesser's question or guess, then the final checked answer.
Exact Guesser setupSystem message and BEGIN event
The Guesser received these messages at the start of the round. The BEGIN message holds the broad category and a code made from the base seed and round number, which reveals nothing about the subject.
{"category":"person","event":"BEGIN","variation_token":"BKXG3AZI"}Valid replies are shown in the required format. Rejected replies are shown separately, without provider or call IDs.
Q1
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person alive today?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person alive today?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King’s official website reports: “The Institute Season Two — Posted: February 4th, 2026.”Open stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
The Guardian published “Post your questions for Stephen King” on July 23, 2025, describing him as participating in a reader interview.Open theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q2
1 · Guesser asks
Was the person born in the United States?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was the person born in the United States?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen (Edwin) King, (born Sept. 21, 1947, Portland, Maine, U.S.)Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q3
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person female?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person female?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King.Open stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q4
1 · Guesser asks
Has the person ever held elected political office in the United States?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Has the person ever held elected political office in the United States?"}} 2 · Answer check returns Unknown
Q5
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for a career in professional sports?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for a career in professional sports?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen (Edwin) King ... U.S. writer of horror stories ... one of the world’s best-selling writers.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
He is best known for his works in the horror and fantasy genres.Open cnn.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q6
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for working in the entertainment industry, such as film, television, or music?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for working in the entertainment industry, such as film, television, or music?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
U.S. writer of horror stories... one of the world’s best-selling writers.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
His primary occupation is a novelist, but he has also produced shows for television and other such media.Open thefactsite.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q7
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for business, technology, or entrepreneurship?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for business, technology, or entrepreneurship?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Here’s a look at the life of best-selling author Stephen King... He is best known for his works in the horror and fantasy genres.Open cnn.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen (Edwin) King ... U.S. writer of horror stories... one of the world’s best-selling writers.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q8
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for work in science, mathematics, or medicine?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for work in science, mathematics, or medicine?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
He is best known for his works in the horror and fantasy genres.Open cnn.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen (Edwin) King ... U.S. writer of horror stories.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q9
1 · Guesser asks
Has the person served in a role within the United States federal government, such as the judiciary, cabinet, or military?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Has the person served in a role within the United States federal government, such as the judiciary, cabinet, or military?"}} 2 · Answer check returns Unknown
Q10
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known as an author, writer, or journalist?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known as an author, writer, or journalist?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen (Edwin) King ... U.S. writer of horror stories ... one of the world’s best-selling writers.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
He is also the author of The Dark Tower fantasy series and a wonderful non-fiction book: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.Open stephenkingbooks.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q11
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for writing fiction, such as novels or short stories?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for writing fiction, such as novels or short stories?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
His acclaimed novels and short story collections include Carrie, The Shining, The Stand, Misery and 11.22.63.Open stephenkingbooks.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Carrie (1974), his first published novel and an immediate success, was followed by such works as The Shining, The Dead Zone, Pet Sematary, It, Misery, and others.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q12
1 · Guesser asks
Was the person born before 1950?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was the person born before 1950?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen (Edwin) King, (born Sept. 21, 1947, Portland, Maine, U.S.)Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Birth date: September 21, 1947Open cnn.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q13
1 · Guesser asks
Was the person born before 1940?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was the person born before 1940?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen (Edwin) King, (born Sept. 21, 1947, Portland, Maine, U.S.)Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns No
Q14
1 · Guesser asks
Is the person primarily known for writing in genres such as horror, science fiction, or fantasy?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for writing in genres such as horror, science fiction, or fantasy?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
He is best known for his works in the horror and fantasy genres.Open cnn.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
Q15
1 · Guesser asks
Are many of the person's written works set in the state of Maine?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Are many of the person's written works set in the state of Maine?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
The vast majority of King’s novels and short stories have been set in Maine.Open fox23maine.com (opens in a new tab)
2 · Answer check returns Yes
G
1 · Guesser guessesNot counted
Stephen King
American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels, many set in Maine
Validator rationale The proposed identity matches Stephen King, the American author described in the trusted subject.
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"GUESS","description":"American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels, many set in Maine","name":"Stephen King","question":null}} 2 · Validator returns Yes