Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Puzzle 152: The Card Tournament
In a round-robin card tournament one player leaves early and 59 hands are played, so how many did he play?
- Chapter
- Layton's Challenges (bonus)
- Location
- Layton's Challenges
- Picarats
- 80 picarats
- Type
- Write Answer
- Region
- Same in all versions
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
First work out how many players there are.
Tap to flip backHint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
With n players, a full round-robin has n × (n − 1) ÷ 2 hands.
Tap to flip backHint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Find the full tournament size just above 59, then take away the hands Wallace missed.
Tap to flip backAnswer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
The answer is 4 hands.
Tap to flip backSolution, FAQ and sources
Solution
1. A full round-robin with *n* players has *n*(*n* − 1)/2 hands: 55 for 11 players, 66 for 12. 2. The other players all played each other, which is a full round-robin of *n* − 1 players, plus Wallace's few hands. 3. With 12 players, the other 11 play 55 hands among themselves, so Wallace played 59 − 55 = 4. (With 11 players he'd have needed 14 hands but there were only 10 opponents, and 13 players would already be over 59.)
Wallace played **4 hands**.
About this puzzle
Everyone at a card tournament is supposed to play everyone else once, one-on-one. Wallace leaves after a few hands and plays no more; nobody else misses any. In total 59 hands are played. How many did Wallace play?
Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5 or Nintendo. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.
Similar puzzles: Puzzle 113: A Stack of Dice, Puzzle 112: Turn On the Light, Puzzle 109: Walking the Dog, Puzzle 131: How to Escape?
All Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box puzzles
FAQ
What is the answer to Puzzle 152, The Card Tournament, in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box?
The answer is 4 hands.
Where do you find Puzzle 152 in Diabolical Box?
Puzzle 152 is one of the 15 bonus puzzles in Layton's Challenges, outside the main story.
How many picarats is Diabolical Box Puzzle 152 worth?
80 picarats.
Sources
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Puzzle:The Card Tournament
- StrategyWiki: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box/Layton's Challenges
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Module:PuzzleData/DB
Facts checked on November 14, 2026
Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.