Red Queen

[TimeSpaceLightForce]

Move 3 white pieces to any unoccupied black squares.

In order for the Red Queen to capture all 12.

(The queen captures by jumping diagonally over a white

piece and continue with another pieces in any direction)

[harey]

Place the pawns from the column H to C3, G3 and G7.

Jumps: E3 - C1 - A3 - C5 - A7 - F2 - H4 - E7 - B4 - D2 - H6 - F8

[bonanova]

Clearly the three to move are on the 8th file; it's easy to grab the other nine.

But since the red Q will only be on odd ranks and files, where do you put them?

Good puzzle.

[fabpig]

the only way this could work would be if the 3 pieces on file 8 can be moved to replace pieces after they have been captured.

Using chessboard notation, Red Queen moves

G1 - E3 (captures F2), E3 - G5 (F4), G5 - E7 (F6), E7 - C5 (D6)

the 3 pieces on "H" are now moved to F4, F6, D6 and the queen reverses:

C5 - E7 (D6), E7 - G5 (F6), G5 - E3 (F4), E3 - C1 (D2), C1 - A3 (B2), A3 - C5 (B4), C5 - A7 (B6).

Think that works. I don't see a solution that will work for the squares unoccupied at the start...

Aaaagh! Just spotted a mistake. But I think the method is more or less right.

Edited February 15, 2014 by fabpig

[Perhaps check it again]

Original poster, are the three white pieces to necessarily be moved before the queen even begins

to make the first capture?

[fabpig]

One way would be for the Queen to take F2, F4, F6, D6, D4, D2, B2, B4, B6. Then replace B2 B4 B6 with the pieces on H and re-take B6, B4, B2

[TimeSpaceLightForce]

@ perhaps check it again & fabpig -Place all the 3 white pieces first then the queen moves to take all of the 12 white pieces.

Checker rule: Queens can jump over 2 to 7 squares over a single opponent piece to capture and must go on in any

direction from its landing squares until there is no more to capture. There are many rules but i guess this one is commonly

used.

[fabpig]

"...Queens can jump over 2 to 7 squares over a single opponent piece..."

Well that's a new one to me, and, I suspect, 99%+ of others reading this. Still, now we know the rules...

[TimeSpaceLightForce]

Most kids might have learned how to play checker before they advance to playing chess.The rules are easier.
For those younger generations who wants to try this game heres:

How To Play Checkers (Using Standard U.S. Rules)
By Erik Arneson

1. Checkers is played by two players. Each player begins the game with 12 colored discs. (Typically, one set of pieces is black and the other red.)

2. The board consists of 64 squares, alternating between 32 dark and 32 light squares. It is positioned so that each player has a light square on the right side corner closest to him or her.

3. Each player places his or her pieces on the 12 dark squares closest to him or her.

4. Black moves first. Players then alternate moves.

5. Moves are allowed only on the dark squares, so pieces always move diagonally. Single pieces are always limited to forward moves (toward the opponent).

6. A piece making a non-capturing move (not involving a jump) may move only one square.

7. A piece making a capturing move (a jump) leaps over one of the opponent's pieces, landing in a straight diagonal line on the other side. Only one piece may be captured in a single jump; however, multiple jumps are allowed on a single turn.

8. When a piece is captured, it is removed from the board.

9. If a player is able to make a capture, there is no option -- the jump must be made. If more than one capture is available, the player is free to choose whichever he or she prefers.

10. When a piece reaches the furthest row from the player who controls that piece, it is crowned and becomes a king. One of the pieces which had been captured is placed on top of the king so that it is twice as high as a single piece.

11. Kings are limited to moving diagonally, but may move both forward and backward. (Remember that single pieces, i.e. non-kings, are always limited to forward moves.)

12. Kings may combine jumps in several directions -- forward and backward -- on the same turn. Single pieces may shift direction diagonally during a multiple capture turn, but must always jump forward (toward the opponent).

13. A player wins the game when the opponent cannot make a move. In most cases, this is because all of the opponent's pieces have been captured, but it could also be because all of his pieces are blocked in.


Note: King in this puzzle is called Queen (like a promoted pawn in chess or dames in other nations draught/checker).
It is not mention in above rules that the King can jump 2 to 7 squares to capture a piece unlike the international ruling.
But as puzzle .. well it shall be solved.

[kukupai]

[fabpig]

Place the pawns from the column H to C3, G3 and G7.

Jumps: E3 - C1 - A3 - C5 - A7 - F2 - H4 - E7 - B4 - D2 - H6 - F8

I googled this variant. It's called "Flying Kings" and it appears it only exists in international games (which are played on a 10x10 board) and certain "in house" rules. The one thing that seems common is that the King is only allowed to jump over 1 piece at a time (although it can continue in any diagonal direction once it's landed on a vacant square). i.e. it can't jump over 2 or more pieces that have no vacant square between them. Hope that clarifies

Edited February 18, 2014 by fabpig

[TimeSpaceLightForce]

Thnx for clarifiying fabpig.

harey got the H to c3,g3,g7 !!

I guess the 8x8 w/flying king is like Brazilian draugths with in house rules of removing captured pieces.

Not sure about the reverse capture though. For all forward capture E3-C5-A3-C1-E3-H6-F8-B4*-C1*-H4*-D8-A5...as well.