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
- 6
- Outcome
- Solved
- Format errors
- No errors
- Duration
- 2m 18s
- Round cost
- $0.0733 All 7 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":"video_game_character","event":"BEGIN","variation_token":"EAQCORIU"}Valid replies are shown in the required format. Rejected replies are shown separately, without provider or call IDs.
Is the character human (or human-like in appearance)?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character human (or human-like in appearance)?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Mario is recognizable by his blue overalls, red cap, and trademark moustache; he and his brother Luigi are known across the land.Open mario.nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
It stars Mario and Luigi, two Italian plumbers.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the character male?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character male?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Nintendo's iconic video game character... the mustachioed man...Open scrippsnews.com (opens in a new tab)
Did the character first appear in a game released before the year 2000?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did the character first appear in a game released before the year 2000?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
The character's first appearance was in 1981, in the arcade game Donkey Kong, when he was known as Jumpman.Open bbc.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Mario debuted as Jumpman in Donkey Kong (1981) before appearing in Mario Bros. (1983).Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the character from a Nintendo game?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character from a Nintendo game?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Nintendo released Super Mario Bros., starring Mario, for its NES home-gaming console.Open cnbc.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the character a plumber?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character a plumber?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
He's a plumber by profession but is really a jack of all trades.Open mario.nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
Does the character typically wear green clothing?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Does the character typically wear green clothing?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
A standard experience features Mario as a jumpy mustachioed guy with a red hat and blue overalls.Open arstechnica.com (opens in a new tab)
Mario is still sporting his red cap, a red long-sleeved shirt, white gloves and blue overalls.Open eventhubs.com (opens in a new tab)
Mario
Nintendo's mustachioed plumber in red cap and overalls, hero of the Super Mario series
Validator rationale The proposed identity clearly matches Mario, the Nintendo video-game character and protagonist of the Super Mario franchise.
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"GUESS","description":"Nintendo's mustachioed plumber in red cap and overalls, hero of the Super Mario series","name":"Mario","question":null}}