Stone Game VII — LeetCode 1690 Python Solution

The problem

Alice and Bob take turns playing a game, with Alice starting first. There are n stones arranged in a row.

Example

Input

stones = [5,3,1,4,2]

Output

6

Explanation

- Alice removes 2 and gets 5 + 3 + 1 + 4 = 13 points. Alice = 13, Bob = 0, stones = [5,3,1,4].

Python solution

class Solution:
    def stoneGameVII(self, stones: List[int]) -> int:
        @cache
        def dfs(i: int, j: int) -> int:
            if i > j:
                return 0
            a = s[j + 1] - s[i + 1] - dfs(i + 1, j)
            b = s[j] - s[i] - dfs(i, j - 1)
            return max(a, b)

        s = list(accumulate(stones, initial=0))
        ans = dfs(0, len(stones) - 1)
        dfs.cache_clear()
        return ans

Complexity

Pattern: Dynamic Programming

Define a state, write the transition, and stop recomputing the same subproblem. LeetCode 1690. Stone Game VII is filed here on both counts: the reference solution below belongs to the algorithm family this hub collects, and LeetCode tags it Dynamic Programming.

The dynamic programming guide has the Python template for the pattern and the 481 LeetCode problems that use it.

Related problems