OT - Chesspiece puzzle

QuikSand · 03-10-2003, 09:55 AM

As opposed to a "chess puzzle" (along the lines of "mate in two") this is simply a chesspiece puzzle. The setting doesn't involve an actual game of chess, just knowledge of how the pieces work.

Using a standard 8x8 chessboard, and with the traditional move of a knight (two spaces in one orthogonal direction, then one perpendicular space either way... I presume you get the idea), here's the puzzle:

What is the smallest number of knights that can be placed on a chessboard such that every single space is either occupied by or threatened by a knight?

[edit for poor grammar only]

HornedFrog Purple · 03-10-2003, 10:00 AM

I will let it sit for a while instead.... sorry

rlfreeze · 03-10-2003, 12:03 PM

Are you able to move multiple knights at the same time?

EDIT: Nevermind

QuikSand · 03-10-2003, 12:47 PM

HFP... five minutes seems pretty quick for this puzzle. Did you "solve" it in that time, or have you seen this before?

Either way, thanks for not posting a super-quick spoiler...

HornedFrog Purple · 03-10-2003, 12:53 PM

Both. It was actually in a chess training book I have, but it had been a long time since I had done it. It was more memory recollection than anything. I just never get your other ones, chess problems I enjoy.

I actually came up with two variations with the same number of pieces if my scribblings on a notepad are right. There may be more.

albionmoonlight · 03-10-2003, 01:54 PM

I got 16 by dividing the board into 4 squares and showing that you can fill each square with 4 knights. However, I am sure that one with more time to fiddle than I have could cut that down a bit. Wish that I had more time to look at this one. . . .

albionmoonlight · 03-10-2003, 03:08 PM

looked at it a couple more ways and still get stuck on 16. There has got to be a better answer, though. . .

Maple Leafs · 03-10-2003, 03:35 PM

Just curious: Are there any chess experts on this forum who'd be interested in a challenging chess problem?

Airhog · 03-10-2003, 03:54 PM

well ryche and Mattjones4heisman are really good players. I would enjoy a challenging problem myself.

Maple Leafs · 03-10-2003, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Airhog
well ryche and Mattjones4heisman are really good players. I would enjoy a challenging problem myself.

I have one in mind that was reasonably straightforward, yet extremely difficult (to the point that grandmasters have failed to solve it). I'll dig around and see if I can find it.

Craptacular · 03-10-2003, 04:11 PM

For the original puzzle, I got 16 for a couple of obvious patterns, but now I found one with 12.

AnalBumCover · 03-10-2003, 07:37 PM

I got 12.

QuikSand · 03-10-2003, 07:45 PM

12 is the best possible answer. Good work, ABC. Care to illustrate?

AnalBumCover · 03-10-2003, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by QuikSand
12 is the best possible answer. Good work, ABC. Care to illustrate?

Black square is occupied by a knight. Red square indicates threatened by knight.

Hope I'm right!
ABC

AnalBumCover · 03-10-2003, 07:52 PM

can you all see the above picture???

RPI-Fan · 03-10-2003, 08:25 PM

No - but on a related note, did anyone watch the chess matches on ESPN over the past couple of weeks?

I found them suprisingly enjoyable.

Craptacular · 03-10-2003, 08:31 PM

I think I made it on QS's ignore list.

AnalBumCover · 03-10-2003, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Craptacular
I think I made it on QS's ignore list.

That's okay C-Tac, I'm sure you got the same answer I did.

For those who can't seem to view my above pic, I've attached it.

QuikSand · 03-11-2003, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Craptacular
I think I made it on QS's ignore list.

Did anyone hear something?

(Sorry 'bout that... my attention span apparently only made it halfway through your answer. Nice job to you too, C.)

03-10-2003, 10:00 AM	#2
HornedFrog Purple Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worthless, Tx	I will let it sit for a while instead.... sorry __________________ King of All FOFC Media!!! IHOF: Fort Worthless Fury- 2004 AOC Deep South Champions (not acknowledged via conspiracy) Last edited by HornedFrog Purple : 03-10-2003 at 10:15 AM.

03-10-2003, 12:03 PM	#3
rlfreeze n00b Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Grenoble, France	Are you able to move multiple knights at the same time? EDIT: Nevermind Last edited by rlfreeze : 03-10-2003 at 12:05 PM.

03-10-2003, 12:53 PM	#5
HornedFrog Purple Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worthless, Tx	Both. It was actually in a chess training book I have, but it had been a long time since I had done it. It was more memory recollection than anything. I just never get your other ones, chess problems I enjoy. I actually came up with two variations with the same number of pieces if my scribblings on a notepad are right. There may be more. __________________ King of All FOFC Media!!! IHOF: Fort Worthless Fury- 2004 AOC Deep South Champions (not acknowledged via conspiracy)

03-10-2003, 03:54 PM	#9
Airhog Captain Obvious Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Norman, Oklahoma	well ryche and Mattjones4heisman are really good players. I would enjoy a challenging problem myself. __________________ Thread Killer extraordinaire Yay! its football season once again!

03-10-2003, 07:37 PM	#12
AnalBumCover College Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: La Mirada, CA	I got 12. __________________ ABC's Game Giveaway list

03-10-2003, 12:47 PM	#4
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	HFP... five minutes seems pretty quick for this puzzle. Did you "solve" it in that time, or have you seen this before? Either way, thanks for not posting a super-quick spoiler...

03-10-2003, 01:54 PM	#6
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	I got 16 by dividing the board into 4 squares and showing that you can fill each square with 4 knights. However, I am sure that one with more time to fiddle than I have could cut that down a bit. Wish that I had more time to look at this one. . . .

03-10-2003, 03:08 PM	#7
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	looked at it a couple more ways and still get stuck on 16. There has got to be a better answer, though. . .

03-10-2003, 03:35 PM	#8
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	Just curious: Are there any chess experts on this forum who'd be interested in a challenging chess problem?

03-10-2003, 04:11 PM	#11
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	For the original puzzle, I got 16 for a couple of obvious patterns, but now I found one with 12.

03-10-2003, 07:45 PM	#13
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	12 is the best possible answer. Good work, ABC. Care to illustrate?

03-10-2003, 07:52 PM	#15
AnalBumCover College Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: La Mirada, CA	can you all see the above picture??? __________________ ABC's Game Giveaway list

03-10-2003, 08:25 PM	#16
RPI-Fan Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Troy, NY	No - but on a related note, did anyone watch the chess matches on ESPN over the past couple of weeks? I found them suprisingly enjoyable. __________________ Quis custodiets ipsos custodes?

03-10-2003, 08:31 PM	#17
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	I think I made it on QS's ignore list.

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