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LeetCode 2038: Remove Colored Pieces if Both Neighbors are the Same Color Solution

Master LeetCode problem 2038 (Remove Colored Pieces if Both Neighbors are the Same Color), a medium challenge, with our optimized solutions in Java, C++, and Python. Explore detailed explanations, test your code in our interactive editor, and prepare for coding interviews.

2038. Remove Colored Pieces if Both Neighbors are the Same Color

Medium
MathStringGreedyGame Theory

Problem Explanation

Explanation

To solve this problem, we can simulate the game between Alice and Bob by iterating through the string and applying the rules mentioned in the problem. We maintain two pointers to keep track of the current player's turn. If a player cannot make a move, the other player wins.

  1. Initialize two pointers for Alice and Bob.
  2. Iterate through the string:
    • If it's Alice's turn, check if the current character is 'A' and both neighbors are 'A'. If so, remove the character.
    • If it's Bob's turn, check if the current character is 'B' and both neighbors are 'B'. If so, remove the character.
    • Toggle the player's turn after each move.
  3. If a player cannot make a move, the other player wins.

Time Complexity: O(n) where n is the length of the input string. Space Complexity: O(1)

Solution Code

class Solution {
    public boolean winnerOfGame(String colors) {
        int alice = 0, bob = 0;
        for (int i = 1; i < colors.length() - 1; i++) {
            if (colors.charAt(i) == 'A' && colors.charAt(i - 1) == 'A' && colors.charAt(i + 1) == 'A') {
                colors = colors.substring(0, i) + colors.substring(i + 1);
                alice++;
                i = Math.max(-1, i - 2);
            } else {
                bob++;
            }
        }
        return alice > bob;
    }
}

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