this question is called the monty hall problem due to its resembling scenarios on the game show "let's make a deal;" its answer existed before it was used in "ask marilyn". she said the selection should be switched to door #2 because it has a chance of success, while door #1 has just . to summarize, of the time the opened door #3 will indicate the location of the door with the car (the door you had not picked and the one not opened by the host). only of the time will the opened door #3 mislead you into changing from the winning door to a losing door. these probabilities assume you change your choice each time door #3 is opened, and that the host always opens a door with a goat. this response provoked letters from thousands of readers, nearly all arguing doors #1 and #2 each have an equal chance of success. a follow-up column reaffirming her position served only to intensify the debate and soon became a feature article on the front page of "the new york times". "parade" received around 10,000 letters from readers who thought that her workings were incorrect.