Game Passing the buck | DILR CAT 2025 Slot 3 | Wide Wordy | Hard
Seven children, Aarav, Bina, Chirag, Diya, Eshan, Farhan, and Gaurav, are sitting in a circle facing inside (not necessarily in the same order) and playing a game of ‘Passing the Buck’.
The game is played over 10 rounds. In each round, the child holding the Buck must pass it directly to a child sitting in one of the following positions:
• Immediately to the left;
• Immediate to the right;
• Second to the left; or
• Second to the right.
The game starts with Bina passing the Buck and ends with Chirag receiving the Buck. The table below provides some information about the pass types and the child receiving the Buck. Some information is missing and labelled as ‘?’.
| Round | Pass Type | Received by |
| 1 | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Second to the right | ? |
| 3 | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | ? | ? |
| 5 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Second to the left | ? |
| 7 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Immediately to the left | ? |
| 9 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | ? | Chirag |
Who is sitting immediately to the right of Bina?
Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Eshan
Explanation: From the uniquely determined clockwise seating arrangement Bina → Eshan → Diya → Gaurav → Farhan → Chirag → Aarav, the child sitting immediately to the right of Bina is Eshan. This arrangement is fixed once the first three rounds are analysed using the left/right movement rules on a circle of seven, and no alternative seating satisfies all later rounds simultaneously.
Step wise Explanation
Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | Chirag |
Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question
From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Second to the right | R2 | |
| 3 | Immediately to the right | Diya | |
| 4 | ? | R4 | |
| 5 | ? | Aarav | |
| 6 | Second to the left | R6 | |
| 7 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav | |
| 8 | Immediately to the left | R8 | |
| 9 | ? | Farhan | |
| 10 | ? | Chirag |
Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.
Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”
This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:
• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | R2 |
| 3 | R2 | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2
Fix Bina at position 0.
Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.
Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.
Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.
Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4
Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.
Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.
This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | R1 / R2 | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | R2 / R1 | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6
Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.
So R6 = Farhan.
Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8
Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.
Step 8: Fix remaining pass types
From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.
From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.
Final working table:
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | Immediately to the right / Second to the right | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | Farhan |
| 7 | Farhan | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | Diya |
| 9 | Diya | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | Immediately to the left / Immediately to the right | Chirag |
Who is sitting third to the left of Eshan?
Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Chirag
Explanation: In the final clockwise order, Eshan occupies position 1. Moving third to the left corresponds to a shift of −3 on the circle, i.e. from position 1 to position 5. The child at position 5 is Chirag. This answer relies on the uniquely oriented seating that fits all rounds, not merely on local adjacency assumptions.
Step wise Explanation
Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | Chirag |
Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question
From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Second to the right | R2 | |
| 3 | Immediately to the right | Diya | |
| 4 | ? | R4 | |
| 5 | ? | Aarav | |
| 6 | Second to the left | R6 | |
| 7 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav | |
| 8 | Immediately to the left | R8 | |
| 9 | ? | Farhan | |
| 10 | ? | Chirag |
Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.
Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”
This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:
• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | R2 |
| 3 | R2 | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2
Fix Bina at position 0.
Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.
Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.
Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.
Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4
Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.
Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.
This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | R1 / R2 | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | R2 / R1 | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6
Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.
So R6 = Farhan.
Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8
Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.
Step 8: Fix remaining pass types
From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.
From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.
Final working table:
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | Immediately to the right / Second to the right | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | Farhan |
| 7 | Farhan | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | Diya |
| 9 | Diya | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | Immediately to the left / Immediately to the right | Chirag |
For which of the following pass types can the total number of occurrences be uniquely determined?
1. Second to the right
2. Immediately to the right
3. Second to the left
4. Immediately to the left
Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: 2. Immediately to the right
Explanation: The question asks which pass type has a total number of occurrences that can be uniquely determined, meaning that its count remains invariant across all logically valid ways of completing the table. Even though some rounds allow ambiguity in pass type, enforcing the fixed seating arrangement and the continuity of the Buck forces the number of “immediately to the right” passes to be the same in every valid completion. Other pass types can vary depending on how the ambiguous rounds are resolved. Hence, only “immediately to the right” has a uniquely determined total count.
Step wise Explanation
Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | Chirag |
Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question
From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Second to the right | R2 | |
| 3 | Immediately to the right | Diya | |
| 4 | ? | R4 | |
| 5 | ? | Aarav | |
| 6 | Second to the left | R6 | |
| 7 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav | |
| 8 | Immediately to the left | R8 | |
| 9 | ? | Farhan | |
| 10 | ? | Chirag |
Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.
Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”
This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:
• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | R2 |
| 3 | R2 | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2
Fix Bina at position 0.
Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.
Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.
Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.
Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4
Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.
Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.
This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | R1 / R2 | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | R2 / R1 | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6
Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.
So R6 = Farhan.
Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8
Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.
Step 8: Fix remaining pass types
From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.
From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.
Final working table:
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | Immediately to the right / Second to the right | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | Farhan |
| 7 | Farhan | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | Diya |
| 9 | Diya | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | Immediately to the left / Immediately to the right | Chirag |
For which of the following children is it possible to determine how many times they received the Buck?
1. Eshan
2. Farhan
3. Gaurav
4. Bina
Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Gaurav
Explanation: In the fully reconstructed path, Gaurav receives the Buck in exactly two rounds (Rounds 4 and 7). Importantly, even while some receiver counts remain ambiguous during partial solving, Gaurav’s count becomes fixed due to the structure of the passes around him and the forced left passes involving his position. Thus, among the listed options, only Gaurav’s number of receptions can be uniquely determined.
Step wise Explanation
Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | Chirag |
Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question
From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Second to the right | R2 | |
| 3 | Immediately to the right | Diya | |
| 4 | ? | R4 | |
| 5 | ? | Aarav | |
| 6 | Second to the left | R6 | |
| 7 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav | |
| 8 | Immediately to the left | R8 | |
| 9 | ? | Farhan | |
| 10 | ? | Chirag |
Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.
Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”
This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:
• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | R2 |
| 3 | R2 | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2
Fix Bina at position 0.
Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.
Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.
Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.
Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | ? | R4 |
| 5 | R4 | ? | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4
Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.
Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.
This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | R1 / R2 | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | R2 / R1 | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | R6 |
| 7 | R6 | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | R8 |
| 9 | R8 | ? | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | ? | Chirag |
Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6
Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.
So R6 = Farhan.
Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8
Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.
Step 8: Fix remaining pass types
From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.
From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.
Final working table:
| Round | Passer | Pass type | Receiver |
| 1 | Bina | Immediately to the left | Aarav |
| 2 | Aarav | Second to the right | Eshan |
| 3 | Eshan | Immediately to the right | Diya |
| 4 | Diya | Immediately to the right / Second to the right | Gaurav |
| 5 | Gaurav | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Aarav |
| 6 | Aarav | Second to the left | Farhan |
| 7 | Farhan | Immediately to the left | Gaurav |
| 8 | Gaurav | Immediately to the left | Diya |
| 9 | Diya | Second to the right / Immediately to the right | Farhan |
| 10 | Farhan | Immediately to the left / Immediately to the right | Chirag |









