A BBC CrowdScience listener from Ghana noticed a curious pattern in the Unexpected Elements quiz - the correct answer is almost never 'a'. This observation sparked an investigation into cognitive biases that affect our decision-making in games of chance and probability.

Presenter Alex Lathbridge explores how our brains take shortcuts when solving problems, a pragmatic approach that helps manage an incredibly complicated world but sometimes leads us astray. With mathematician Kit Yates from the University of Bath, Alex demonstrates how intuition can fail us in probability-based games using stale sweets as props.

The investigation extends to gambling and gaming, where Rachel Croson, Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota, explains how human psychology works against us. The program examines whether understanding these mental pitfalls can help us win more often, featuring insights from Maria Konnikova, who turned her psychology research into a successful poker career.

This exploration of cognitive biases reveals why multiple choice questions might be designed to exploit our mental shortcuts, making us less likely to choose the first option. The research suggests that awareness of these biases could potentially improve our decision-making in games and beyond.