Never did quite understand the thing with Yellow Eyebrow Monk having odd or even toes

[Ken Cheng]

One thing I've never quite understood about DGSD was that whole thing between Deun Yin Hing and Yellow Eyebrowed Monk before their chess match betting whether the monk would have an even or odd number of toes after the monk turned seventy. I understand the purpose of the bet was to determine who would make the first move in the chess match, but there must have been an easier way (flipping a coin or something?). I never understood the point of going through all that trouble.

[Ace High]

Flipping a coin can go either way. The coin could also be influenced by internal energy, or hit by a pebble or what not...

[Ken Cheng]

Flipping a coin can go either way.

That's sort of the idea.

[Ace High]

That's sort of the idea.

That is exactly why Yellow Eyebrowed Monk came up with the odd/even toe bet. To ensure he get the first turn.

[tape]

That is exactly why Yellow Eyebrowed Monk came up with the odd/even toe bet. To ensure he get the first turn.

DYQ could always just randomly guess (flip his own coin if he wanted to!) so the monk couldn't gain any advantage from any mind games.

[Ace High]

And DYQ was impressed with the monk's tenacity to sacrifice one of his toe just to gain the first move advantage.

[Doc Kwok]

I guess they didn't have first move compensation (komi) back then...

[Ren Wo Xing]

And DYQ was impressed with the monk's tenacity to sacrifice one of his toe just to gain the first move advantage.

The opposite, actually. It made him confident that he would win, as the other guy was willing to sacrifice a toe for just a minor advantage.

[Ace High]

The opposite, actually. It made him confident that he would win, as the other guy was willing to sacrifice a toe for just a minor advantage.

My point exactly. DYQ was impressed with the monk's sacrifice for a minor advantage, and at the same time make him confident that he will win.