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
- 4m 19s
- Round cost
- $0.2644 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":"BYOMPCJW"}Valid replies are shown in the required format. Rejected replies are shown separately, without provider or call IDs.
Is the person alive today?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person alive today?"}}Oracle evidence3 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
King in 2024; Born September 21, 1947 (age 78); Period 1967–present.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
FULL NAME: Stephen Edwin King BORN: September 21, 1947. SPOUSE: Tabitha King (1971–present).Open biography.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947.Open stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
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)
Is the person a citizen of the United States?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person a citizen of the United States?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King ... is an American novelist and short-story writer; born September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine, U.S.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King is a prolific American author ... Born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine.Open ebsco.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known for a career in the entertainment industry (such as acting, music, or filmmaking)?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for a career in the entertainment industry (such as acting, music, or filmmaking)?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King is a 'New York Times'-bestselling novelist who made his name in the horror and fantasy genres with books like 'Carrie,' 'The Shining' and 'IT.'Open biography.com (opens in a new tab)
# The AuthorOpen stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
Has the person ever held an 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 an elected political office in the United States?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
“Political office is one horror story that even Stephen King doesn’t want to do.”Open sunjournal.com (opens in a new tab)
The attention garnered by the LePage criticism led to efforts to encourage King to run for Governor of Maine... King said he would not run or serve.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known as a professional athlete or sports figure?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known as a professional athlete or sports figure?"}}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.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen Edwin King ... made his first professional short story sale in 1967.Open stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known as a business executive, entrepreneur, or investor?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known as a business executive, entrepreneur, or investor?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen Edwin King ... is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror fiction.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King is a prolific American author known for his significant contributions to the horror genre.Open ebsco.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known for work in science, technology, 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, technology, mathematics, or medicine?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King — American novelist; described as “the master of chills and suspense.”Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Dubbed the “King of Horror,” he is widely known for his horror fiction.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Has the person ever served in the United States federal government, judiciary, or military?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Has the person ever served in the United States federal government, judiciary, or military?"}}Is the person primarily known as an author, journalist, or writer?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known as an author, journalist, or writer?"}}Oracle evidence3 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Nobel prize-winning American author... Stephen (Edwin) King summaryOpen britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
# The AuthorOpen stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
Best-selling author Stephen King rose to fame in the 1970s with his debut novel Carrie and has since become known as the “King of Horror.”Open biography.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known for writing works of fiction?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for writing works of fiction?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King is a prolific American novelist known for blending horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the macabre.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King is a 'New York Times'-bestselling novelist who made his name in the horror and fantasy genres.Open biography.com (opens in a new tab)
Was the person born before January 1, 1960?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was the person born before January 1, 1960?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen Edwin King was born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine.Open biography.com (opens in a new tab)
Is the person widely known for writing in the horror, science fiction, or fantasy genres?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person widely known for writing in the horror, science fiction, or fantasy genres?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Carrie was the first of many novels in which King blended horror, macabre, fantasy, and science fiction.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Is the person primarily known for writing horror fiction?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the person primarily known for writing horror fiction?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Dubbed the “King of Horror”, he is widely known for his horror fiction.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
U.S. writer of horror stories.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Was the person born in the New England region of the United States?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was the person born in the New England region of the United States?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947.Open stephenking.com (opens in a new tab)
New England: Includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.Open cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Stephen King
American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels
Validator rationale The proposed identity exactly matches Stephen King, the trusted subject.
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"GUESS","description":"American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels","name":"Stephen King","question":null}}