Get someone to facilitate the game for you. They will roll the dice and tell you the number of petals around the rose. The facilitator should not disclose the reasoning behind this number. That’s for you to work out![2] X Research source Eventually, when you solve the puzzle, you will be able guess the number of petals on a particular roll of the dice on your own.

At first, it will be unclear how they got this number. Get them to roll the dice several times and tell you how many petals there are each time. Can you see a pattern emerging that determines the number of petals around the rose each turn? Take your time. It may take several rolls to figure out the solution.

For example, the game is called “Petals Around the Rose” and this name is significant. [4] X Research source Why might it be called petals around the rose? How might this name relate to the faces of the dice you are seeing?

For example, a die with a 5 on it has 4 petals around the rose. A die with a 3 on it has 2 petals around the rose. A die with 1 only has one dot on its face. It is a rose without petals.

For example, if you get a roll with 5, 4, 6, 1, there are 4 petals around the rose. 4 and 6 are even numbers so the dice showing these numbers do not count as roses. The die with 1 represents a rose without a petal. The die showing a 5 has 4 petals around the rose. Therefore, the total number of petals around the rose is 4. If you get 2, 4, 6, 1, then the total number of petals will be zero. There are no dice with dots in the center and therefore no roses.

Remember that different people will take different lengths of time to work out the solution. Some even say that the smarter you are the longer it takes you to work it out! Tell your friend this if they are struggling to work out the solution. It will inspire them to keep going.

Offer some helpful hints. Remind them that the name of the game is significant. Also, the answer will be either an even number or zero. [5] X Research source

Tell the first person to solve the puzzle that they are a Potentate of the Rose and they must guard the secret. [7] X Research source