instruction stringlengths 15 30k |
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What is the maximum number of black and white pieces which are relevant or involved in a checkmate position? That is if any piece was removed from the board, the checkmate on last move would not be possible because that piece is relevant or has a role in such Checkmate position because it may be: 1) checking the king 2... |
This is the third question of my mini series on decentralised chess, or [Swiss chess](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107642/71595).
In Swiss chess, the advantage in terms of mobility of a centrally placed piece over a piece in the corner is compensated for simply by opening up additional squares a marginalised... |
This is the fourth entry in my decentralised or "Swiss" chess mini series. See bottom for a recap of the modified rules of Swiss chess.
[Enough](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107642/71595) [warm](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107647/71595) [up](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107700/71595)! It is ... |
This is the third question of my mini series on decentralised chess, or [Swiss chess](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107642/71595).
In Swiss chess, the advantage in terms of mobility of a centrally placed piece over a piece in the corner is compensated for simply by opening up additional squares a marginalised... |
This is the fourth entry in my decentralised or "Swiss" chess mini series. See bottom for a recap of the modified rules of Swiss chess.
[Enough](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107642/71595) [warm](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107647/71595) [up](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107700/71595)! It is ... |
This problem shouldn't require more than
>! 4
questions to completely characterize the four people (or gods, or aliens, or whatever characters are in your favourite version of the problem). The crucial piece of logic that makes this and the original question much easier to answer is to ask questions such as
>! "I... |
What is the maximum number of black and white pieces that are involved in a checkmate position? That is, if any piece were removed from the board, the position would not checkmate because that piece is
- checking the king,
- blocking a square where the checked king can move,
- attacking an unoccupied square whe... |
What is the maximum number of black and white pieces that are involved in a checkmate position? That is, if any piece were removed from the board, the position would not be checkmate because that piece is
- checking the king,
- blocking a square where the checked king can move,
- attacking an unoccupied square ... |
The puzzle is as follows:
> The figure from below represents a peculiar structure which consists in congruent triangles whose sides intersect and is made of an iron wire. How many cuts passing through all the dots showcased can be made at minimum to get the whole structure unassembled? Assume that a cut through any ... |
I have landed on a new planet and there are 4 people there. One of them is a truth teller and they always speak the truth. The other is a liar and they always lie. The other 2 are random and they sometimes say yes and sometimes say no, all at random. Each of them knows everything about all the others. I wish to find ou... |
One truthteller, one liar, and two randoms - least questions to identify? |
I know it's confusing, so if 2-3 people tell me that it would help them if I write a code where the computer finds the identities of the aliens, I will do so ASAP.
Answer:
-
The minimum number of questions required to guarantee knowledge of their identities is:
>! 10 questions
Proof:
-
To be honest I ha... |
*<sup>Inspired by [Avi's Vowelburger™ Riddle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/92931/18418)</sup>*
Vowelburgers™ is proud to announce the first ever Penta-decker Vowelburger™. This means six consonant buns sandwiching five vowel patties as shown:
[![pentadecker burger][1]][1]
Here is the menu's description... |
<sup>An entry in [Fortnightly Topic Challenge #50: Escape Rooms](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7172/)</sup>
---
Your head is throbbing like mad. You try to get your bearings as you look around the laboratory. Shattered beakers and spilled chemicals are everywhere. Another failed experiment. Ho... |
<sup>Someone told me that I should put a link to [Fortnightly Topic Challenge #50: Escape Rooms](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7172/)... whatever that is, sure. </sup>
---
PSE, I need your help. I just got back from the worst escape room experience I've ever had in my life. Not only was the ... |
Prefix
>! razz = "Tease someone playfully"
Infix
> ???
Suffix
>! Tazz = ring name of Peter Senerchia
Whole word
>! razzmatazz = "Excited action or impressive display" (the noun meaning of dazzle) |
<sup>This puzzle follows from the [Purple Periodic Puzzle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/107514/the-purple-periodic-puzzle) and [Green Periodic Puzzle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/107531/the-green-periodic-puzzle) (these puzzles are solved independently).</sup>
Yet another periodic ta... |
<sub><sup>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sup></sub>
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a **Jeeves Word™**.
Use the following examples to find the rule:
Jeeves Words™ | Not Jeeves ... |
What is a Jeeves Word™? |
<sup>Inspired by [Avi's Vowelburger™ Riddle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/92931/18418)</sup>
Last week, after English class at school, a few friends and I went to the local Vowelburger™ to get some lunch. Feeling hungry, we decided to order 13 burgers among the 4 of us. However, when our burgers were deliv... |
<sub>*This is in the spirit of the What is a [Word™](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22I+call+it%22+title%3A%22what+is%22+title%3Aword+is%3Aquestion)/[Phrase™](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22I+call+it%22+title%3A%22what+is%22+title%3Aphrase+is%3Aquestion) series started by [JLee](https://pu... |
<sup>Inspired by [Avi's Vowelburger™ Riddle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/92931/18418)</sup>
Last week, after English class at school, a few friends and I went to the local Vowelburger™ to get some lunch. Feeling hungry, we decided to order 13 burgers among the 4 of us. However, when our burgers were deliv... |
This is the fourth entry in my decentralised or "Swiss" chess mini series. See bottom for a recap of the modified rules of Swiss chess.
[Enough](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107642/71595) [warm](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107647/71595) [up](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/107700/71595)! It is ... |
<sup>Okay, there's a lot at play in this puzzle, so I feel a **partial answer** is justified to get things going and see if anyone can build off the things I have found...</sup>
---
First, let's address the 'PS' to the letter, which features this sequence of letters: RNEZR GFTGA BUULJ DXCCI VQPHQ SWKMY. What are th... |
<sup>Someone told me that I should put a link to [Fortnightly Topic Challenge #50: Escape Rooms](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7172/)... whatever that is, sure. </sup>
---
PSE, I need your help. I just got back from the worst escape room experience I've ever had in my life. Not only was the ... |
I found this code in my Mothers box of highschool stuff when we were cleaning the basement and found this just wondering what it says
Ifz, ipx bsf zpv epjoh Wbooz?
J bn epjoh xfmm, zpv?
J bn epjoh xfmm bmtp cvu zpv lopx Ftnf sjhiu?
Ivi?
Nz ebvhiufs? Nz gjstucpso ebvhiufs boe tfdpoe dijme?
Pi zfbi,... |
What does this code say? |
I found this code in my mother's box of highschool stuff when we were cleaning the basement and found this just wondering what it says
Ifz, ipx bsf zpv epjoh Wbooz?
J bn epjoh xfmm, zpv?
J bn epjoh xfmm bmtp cvu zpv lopx Ftnf sjhiu?
Ivi?
Nz ebvhiufs? Nz gjstucpso ebvhiufs boe tfdpoe dijme?
Pi zfbi... |
Ifz, ipx bsf zpv epjoh Wbooz? What does this code from my mother's highschool stuff say? |
To resolve your apparent issue... I went to rot13.com, copied in your text, and used ROT25 to get this:
>Hey, how are you doing Vanny?
>I am doing well, you?
>I am doing well also but you know Esme right?
>Huh?
>My daughter? My firstborn daughter and second child?
>Oh yeah, I remember now...what about... |
To resolve your apparent issue... I went to rot13.com, copied in your text, and used ROT25 to get this:
>Hey, how are you doing Vanny?
>I am doing well, you?
>I am doing well also but you know Esme right?
>Huh?
>My daughter? My firstborn daughter and second child?
>Oh yeah, I remember now...what about... |
I found this code in my mother's box of highschool stuff when we were cleaning the basement and found this just wondering what it says
Ifz, ipx bsf zpv epjoh Wbooz?
J bn epjoh xfmm, zpv?
J bn epjoh xfmm bmtp cvu zpv lopx Ftnf sjhiu?
Ivi?
Nz ebvhiufs? Nz gjstucpso ebvhiufs boe tfdpoe dijme?
Pi zfbi... |
Partial (or at least very sketchy) answer:
>! Using the denser footprint of Swiss knights on the edge we can build this simple prison
>! <br> [![enter image description here][1]][1]
>! <br> which confines the defending king to a 12-square "L"-shaped area.
>! <br> Please note how perfectly the shapes of the king's... |
<sub>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sub>
-----------
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Lonely Word™.
Use the following examples below to find the rule.
| LONELY WORD™ | NOT L... |
<sub>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sub>
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it an Introspective Word™.
Use the following examples below to find the rule.
| Introspective Words™ | Not ... |
<sub>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sub>
________
If a word has a certain property, I call it a Narcissistic Word™. If it definitively does not have that property, I call it an Echoing Word™.
You... |
<sub>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sub>
-----------
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Lonely Word™.
Use the following examples below to find the rule.
| LONELY WORD™ | NOT L... |
This puzzle has been posted before but I just cannot understand the only answer that was posted there. Tried asking the person who posted the answer to explain his answer further but didn't get any response. So requesting for new answers. This is the link to the original post :
https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/ques... |
The following puzzle had been posted before but I just coudn't understand the only answer that was given there, which was by @neodne . So, I created this post asking someone to explain neodne's answer to me. @hexomino was able to do so here, to my satisfaction. However, if you have a method of solving this question th... |
The following puzzle had been posted before but I couldn't understand the only answer that was given there, which was by @neodne . So, I created this post asking someone to explain neodne's answer to me. If you have a method of solving this question that is different to neodne's answer, especially if it is simpler and... |
<sup>An entry in [Fortnightly Topic Challenge #50: Escape Rooms](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7172/)</sup>
<sup>Without revealing too much, knowledge of geek culture and/or superb Google skills are required for this puzzle.</sup>
---
Coming from an anime convention and looking for someth... |
**UPDATE:** To make this puzzle fairer, the pieces have been modified to include additional hints. If you want to try and solve the puzzle with the original non-clued pieces, [click here][1].
---
> *A tale is being told here, one that spans many years and generations... but what kind of tale might it be?*
[. For the avoidance of doubt, while the puzzle set-up is based on a real quiz show, the exact scenario described here is entirely fictional!</sup>
---
[![Blockbusters grid][1]][1]
T... |
Can I have a 'P' please, Bob? |
**UPDATE:** To make this puzzle fairer, the pieces have been modified to include additional hints. If you want to try and solve the puzzle with the original non-clued pieces, [click here][1].
---
> *A tale is being told here, one that spans many years and generations... but what kind of tale might it be?*
[![... |
**UPDATE:** To make this puzzle fairer, the pieces have been modified to include additional hints. If you want to try and solve the puzzle with the original non-clued pieces, [click here][1].
---
> *A tale is being told here, one that spans many years and generations... but what kind of tale might it be?*
[... whatever that is, sure. </sup>
---
PSE, I need your help. I just got back from the worst escape room experience I've ever had in my life. Not only was the ... |
Clue answers:
>! [![enter image description here][1]][1]
From the clues, we can surmise that
>! the puzzle is Pokémon themed: several clues are direct references to it. The yellow and black, with a bit of red, suggests Pikachu's color scheme -- so the goal here is to assemble Pikachu from these pieces.
Ass... |
Ash and Bree are playing a simple game of chance:
They fill a bag with small marbles coloured red or blue.
They take turns to draw a marble from the bag without looking, then:
- If Ash draws a red marble, she wins the game
- If Bree draws a blue marble, she wins
- If either player draws the opposite colour, the... |
How can Ash win? Looking at the game tree:
>! <ul><li>Ash can win immediately with probability $r = \frac{\text{number of red marbles}}{\text{total number of marbles}}$.</li>
>! <li>If Ash didn't win immediately (which happens with probability $1-r$), Bree would need to lose (with probability $r$) for Ash to have a... |
How can Ash win? Looking at the game tree:
>! <ul><li>Ash can win immediately with probability $r = \frac{\text{number of red marbles}}{\text{total number of marbles}}$.</li>
>! <li>If Ash didn't win immediately (which happens with probability $1-r$), Bree would need to lose (with probability $r$) for Ash to have a... |
The puzzle is as follows:
>Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 shown are made up of congruent triangles. Assuming you must place tiles congruent to figure 1.2 to cover all the triangles in figure 1.1, without the tiles overlapping or going off the edges. What is the maximum number of tiles that you will use?
[</sup>
Last week, after English class at school, a few friends and I went to the local Vowelburger™ to get some lunch. Feeling hungry, we decided to order 13 burgers among the 4 of us. However, when our burgers were deliv... |
The puzzle is as follows:
>Detective Mike has four bags with 100 coins of one cent each. All of these coins have the weight with the exception of one coin which weighs a little less than the rest because it is counterfeited. Assuming that he has a two pan scale. How many weigh trials at minimum has had to make to fi... |
How can you use a two pan scale to find which coin is counterfeited? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>Assume that you have a two pan scale and three weights, one of 1 pound, the other 3 pounds and the last one 9 pounds. In only one weighing trial, How many objects of different weights can you weight at maximum?
The choices given are:
1. 10 objects
2. 12 objects
3. 13 objects
4... |
How many objects can you weight at maximum given three different weights? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>A merchant has a kiosk nearby our market. He has a sack of 52 pounds of coffee to sell. Assuming that he only uses a two pan scale and three weights with these being of 7 pounds, 4 pounds and 1 pound. How many weighing trials at minimum he has to do in order to get us 13 pounds of coffee f... |
How can you get 52 pounds of coffee by using always three weights? |
<sub>*This is in the spirit of the What is a [Word™](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22I+call+it%22+title%3A%22what+is%22+title%3Aword+is%3Aquestion)/[Phrase™](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22I+call+it%22+title%3A%22what+is%22+title%3Aphrase+is%3Aquestion) series started by [JLee](https://pu... |
The puzzle is as follows:
>Figure 1.1 shows a kitchen floor that is made up of 30 squares whose sides measure 1 cm in length and in Figure 1.2 a tile that is made up of 5 squares whose sides also measure 1 cm. How many tiles congruent to figure 1.2, at most, can be placed on figure 1.1, without overlapping or leavin... |
How many figures to cover the kitchen floor? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>Assume that you have a two pan scale and three weights, one of 1 pound, the other 3 pounds and the last one 9 pounds. In only one weighing trial, how many objects of different weights can you weight at maximum?
The choices given are:
1. 10 objects
2. 12 objects
3. 13 objects
4... |
The puzzle is as follows [with minor copy edits for grammar]:
> A merchant has a kiosk nearby our market. He has a sack of 52 pounds of coffee to sell. Assuming that he only uses a two pan scale and three weights of 7 pounds, 4 pounds and 1 pound, how many weighing trials at minimum does he have to do in order to ge... |
How can you get 13 pounds of coffee by using all three weights each trial? |
What is a Surprising Country? |
The following puzzle had been posted before but I couldn't understand the only answer that was given there, which was by @neodne . So, I created this post asking someone to explain neodne's answer to me. But if you have a method of solving this question that is different to neodne's answer, especially if it is simpler... |
Let's have 312 trominoes of three different colors, 104 trominoes of each color. Can you fill a 26x36 grid with these trominoes without two of the same colors touching anywhere? In addition, the trominoes should not form any pairs (a pair is a 2x3 rectangle). |
Let's have 312 trominoes of three different colors, 104 trominoes of each color. Can you fill a 26x36 grid with these trominoes without two of the same colors touching side-to-side anywhere? In addition, the trominoes should not form any pairs (a pair is a 2x3 rectangle). |
Let's have 312 L-trominoes of three different colors, 104 trominoes of each color. Can you fill a 26x36 grid with these trominoes without two of the same colors touching side-to-side anywhere? In addition, the trominoes should not form any 2x3 rectangles. |
<sub>This is in the spirit of the [What is a Word/Phrase™][1] series started by [JLee][2] with a special brand of [Phrase™][3] and [Word™][4] puzzles.</sub>
---
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Check Word™.
Use the following examples below to find the rule.
| Check Words™ | Not Check Words... |
The problem is as follows:
>Rick has a small store and a two pan scale which allows him to weight the coffee he sells. Certain day he forgotten the weights that he uses in his truck, however in his toolbox he had found the following:
>
> An iron bar with the shape of a [paralellepiped](https://en.wikipedia.org/wik... |
How to find the least amount of straight cuts from an object to get the required weight of 40 kilograms? |
The problem is as follows:
>Rick has a small store and a two pan scale which allows him to weight the coffee he sells. Certain day he forgotten the weights that he uses in his truck, however in his toolbox he had found the following:
>
> An iron bar with the shape of a [paralellepiped](https://en.wikipedia.org/wik... |
The problem is as follows:
>Rick has a small store and a two pan scale which allows him to weight the coffee he sells. Certain day he forgotten the weights that he uses in his truck, however in his toolbox he had found the following:
>
> An iron bar with the shape of a [paralellepiped](https://en.wikipedia.org/wik... |
Based on the following crossword, find a word to describe those with fancy titles and lots of money.
[![crossword grid, transcribed at bottom of question][1]][1]
| Across | Down ... |
The puzzle is as follows:
>The figure from below shows a board that is made up of 30 squares whose sides are of 2 centimeters each. Such board must be split in six congruent pieces. These must be made by those squares of 2 cm in length. Find the perimeter of one of these pieces which it can be obtained.
[![Sketch... |
What is the perimeter of one of the pieces to get from a board made up from squares? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>The figure from below belongs to a didactical toy which is comprised of 32 congruent wood pieces as indicated in the figure. Each piece is made up by three cubes whose edges measure 3 centimeters. If by using only these you want to make the maximum amount of compact cubes as possible. How ... |
How many pieces will not be used to make a cube from what it seems an L? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>The figure from below belongs to a didactical toy which is comprised of 32 congruent wood pieces as indicated in the figure. Each piece is made up by three cubes whose edges measure 3 centimeters. If by using only these you want to make the maximum amount of compact cubes as possible. How ... |
How many L-shaped pieces will not be used to make cubes? |
The puzzle is as follows:
>The figure from below shows a board that is made up of 30 squares whose sides are of 2 centimeters each. Such board must be split in six congruent pieces. These must be made by those squares of 2 cm in length. Find the perimeter of one of these pieces which it can be obtained.
[![a hear... |
What is the perimeter of a pentomino which can tile this heart-shaped board? |
Based on the following crossword, find a word to describe those with fancy titles and lots of money.
[![crossword grid, transcribed at bottom of question][1]][1]
| Across | Down ... |
You already gave the solution.
>! Regardless of how you build the cubes, they must consist of a multiple of 3 unit cubes.
>! That allows only size 3 with 27 unit cubes or size 6 with 216 unit cubes.
>! Clearly the large option requires too many pieces so only cubes with 27 unit cubes or 9 pieces can be made.
... |
<sup>Inspired by [Avi's Vowelburger™ Riddle](https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/q/92931/18418)</sup>
Last week, after English class at school, a few friends and I went to the local Vowelburger™ to get some lunch. Feeling hungry, we decided to order 13 burgers among the 4 of us. However, when our burgers were deliv... |
[![enter image description here][1]][1]
[1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/Br1Bd.png
What is the next image?
The small circle seems to follow the arrow, which would eliminate C and E. |
I acquired a wooden puzzle game from a local thrift store. They had no information about it. Here's a discription:
In a wooden board base are mounted 16 dowels on each of the dowels are 5 wooden balls with a hole in each. 1/2 the balls are of a darker wood & 1/2 are light colored wood 1 dowel on eachonly has 4 balls. ... |
I acquired a wooden puzzle game from a local thrift store. They had no information about it. Here's a description:
In a wooden board base are mounted 16 dowels on each of the dowels are 5 wooden balls with a hole in each. 1/2 the balls are of a darker wood & 1/2 are light colored wood 1 dowel on each only has 4 ball... |
My friend loves puzzles, and one day I walked into her room while she was listening to music. I asked what she was listening to, and she listed off the albums in her playlist:
> Accustomed to Nothing - Accustomed to Nothing
> After Everything Now This - The Church
> Doggumentary - Snoop Dogg
> Eph Reissue -... |
You already gave the solution.
>! Regardless of how you build the cubes, they must consist of a multiple of 3 unit cubes.
>! That allows only size 3 with 27 unit cubes or size 6 with 216 unit cubes.
>! Clearly the large option requires too many pieces so only cubes with 27 unit cubes or 9 pieces can be made.
... |
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