The Games and Puzzles Journal, #8+9 - Mayhematics

page L28 THE GAMES AND PUZZLES JOUR}{ AL issue 8+9
NEI4/S &. P-EVIEWS
Comgfter fulving
Programs for solving chess problems of a wide range of types, suitable for Apple,
Commodore and IBM machines are available from Ilkka BIom, Salmikatu 27 A L6, SF-65200'
Vaasa, FINLAND. Called TALYBADIXT there are 16 types, for solving (f) Oirect mates, (2)
board-edge direct mates, (3) setfmates, (4) reflexmates, (5) helpmates, (6) miniature helpmates
without iastting (?), maxi and minimummer direct mates, (8) maxi and mini selfmates, (9)
seriesmates, (10) seriesselfmates, (L1) seriesreflexmates, (12) serieshelpmates' (13) reciprocal
helpmates, (14) circe direct mates, (tS) circe selfmates, (16) circehelpmates. Price per program
is iOO FMk (about $4? or t27). If the solving times quoted for examples are representative
then the programs seem quite practical for most stipulations (one to ten minutes) but for
helpmates in 3 or more they are still pretty hopeless (hours or days) - but I suppose this means
thal ail possibilities are exhaustivety checked, to ensure soundness, rather than Just finding
one line. Write to Ilkka for full details - a specimen 'Diskette' for 1 or 2 movers is offered
for $3 or 6 international stamp coupons (I presume that in a 1-mover this Just finds the White
mate, and doesnft retranalyse to check whose move it is! -though I should have thought that
retroanalysis was very suita-ble for computer application, being largely a matter of pure logic).
Chess HolidoY tn Austno
Elizabeth and David Deane are organising a speeial chess holiday to Mayrhofen in Tirol'
15-22 October 1989 (cost €410 singte). tt will inc.lude friendly play with the local club and on
their open-air chess set. Details: Austrian Heritage, 1 Jarvis Hall, Steyninq, W.Sussex BN4 3GL.
A Compendium of Ctrcckerboard' Puzzles
This is a straightforward collection by Jerry SLOCUM' dated April 1983' of 33 dissections
of the 8x8 chequered board that have been manufactured, patented or published over the years'
with at least one solution of each case and photocopied illustrations of the packaging'
advertising, etc, accompanying them. The earliest example is from a US patent of 1880 by
H.Luers. This has duplicate pieces and alternative solutions. The most interesting puzzles are
those in which the pieces are aII different - either in shape or colouring - and the solution
is unique. Itve proveO tne uniqueness for the first two shown below, but the others remain to
be tested.
Sam Loyd
1908
S.S.Adams
undated
J. F. Fransen
1929
tscrubb's Cloudy Gary Foshee E. M. Wyatt
Am m onia' collection 1 946
Sam Loydts pioneer first appeared in Our Puzzle Magazine, VoI 2, No 1, July 1908, problem
451(thisisaneariierreferencethantnat.gffim).
The Adams solution is remarkable for being composed of 8 pieces of 8 squares.
The Fransen example is an improved solution of Dudeney's?rChessboard Sentence'? problem.
The pieces read: ''CUT THY LIFE.T' Dudeney's result had three more single squares and has
a, group of pieces that can be rotated. The remaining dot could be combined with the F to
give an all-letter dissection
The author has not noticed that puzzle 13.6 in the Compendium is Just a reflection of
H.E.Dudeneyls13.5tBrokenChessboard'fromThe@Tiresolutionquoted,
due to Laurie Brokenshire, thustcooksr Dudeney's pEle.
Copies of the Compendium may be purchased from Jerry SLOCUM, p.O.Box 163b, Beverly
Hills, California, 90213, U.S.A., for payment of t? or $12.50.
'For further research the following questions need to be answered: (a) Are the other four
examples shown here uniquely soluble? (UJ Is a uniquely soluble dissection possible using the
12 pentomino shapes and a'tetromino? (c) what is the maximum number ol oifferent pleces
that will fit together uniquely to form a chessboard? That should keep you busy a few years!