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solitaireInstructions, Hints& Solutions8 to adultsingle player
Solitaire Chess Welcome to Solitaire Chess, the single-player logic game that uses the rulesof chess in simplified form to create a diabolical brainteaser challenge!If you’ve never played chess before, no problem – Solitaire Chess is an invitingway to hone your skills and build your chess-playing strategies. If you are achess expert, good luck to you! We think the upper levels of Solitaire Chess willbe worthy of your abilities. For everyone who enjoys a good puzzle challenge Solitaire Chess is for you!1 Plastic Chess Board(w/ Storage drawer)Drop lock into slotto secure cardsYour Goal:Capture the chess pieces until only one piece remains on the board.YOU WIN!1.2.3.4.Setup:1. Choose a challenge mat and place it on the game tray (to slide pieces), or asthe top challenge in the storage slot (for a more secure placement).2. Place chess pieces on the challenge mat as indicated.30 Double-SidedChallenge Mats(60 Challenges)Steps To Play:1. Move the chess pieces according to the movement rules (pages 6-7)*Each move MUST result in a captured piece. Think ahead and plan your moves!2. If you are left with two or more pieces on the board,reset the challenge and try again.2Instruction BookletIncluding Hints & Solutions10 Chess Pieces(1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Knights, 2 Bishops, 2 Rooks, 2 Pawns)3. When there is only one piece left on the board, YOU WIN!*Movements are the same as in standard chess.3
Comparing Solitaire Chess to Standard Chess:Strategies to Try if You Get Stuck:Solitaire Chess is a single-player logic puzzle, not a chess game. Recreationalmathematicians classify it as a “chess task,” meaning that it uses the rulesof chess with appropriate adaptations.Solitaire Chess can be challenging! But as you play, you will get the hang of itand you’ll be amazed at how quickly your skills improve. When playing, here aresome solving strategies that might help you.With Solitaire Chess, the basic piece movements are the same as withstandard chess. When you evaluate each challenge and plan your strategy,you are thinking the same way you do when you are playing chess. However,chess purists will notice differences between the two games. Look for a piece that cannot capture. You can then work backwards,because at some point during the challenge, this piece will need tobe captured. Look for a capture “sweep,” where all other pieces are captured by onepiece. For example, all the pieces might be captured by the Queen. When the King is included in a challenge, you immediately know itwill be the last piece on the board because we have designed thechallenges to work this way.The differences are:4 Solitaire Chess is a single-player game; all the pieces are the same color. Every move you make must result in a capture. Pawns can be placed anywhere on the board. They may only move up theboard by diagonally capturing another piece. If you are an experienced chess player, look for “unnatural” moves,such as capturing the Queen first. Pawns are not promoted when they reach the top rank (top row). There is no “check” rule for the King.Examine the Knight very carefully. It is one of the hardest pieces toanalyze because of its L-shaped movement. By our design, every challenge that uses a King will end with the King asthe last remaining piece. (This is not a rule; it is a hint for you.) Examine all the possible captures on the board, systematicallyand completely. Make sure you don’t miss any possibilities everychallenge does have a solution! Use our hint system (pages 9-12) to give yourself a boost.5
Movement Rules: See challenge icon key on page 8.King captures after moving exactly one squarehorizontally, vertically or diagonally.Bishops capture after moving across any number ofvacant squares diagonally.The challenges are designed such that in the solutionthe King will never be captured.Bishops always remain on their original square color.Queen captures after moving across any number ofvacant squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.Rooks capture after moving across any number ofvacant squares vertically or horizontally.Knights capture after moving in an “L” (or inverted“L”) with two steps in one direction, a 90 turn and onestep in the new direction.Pawns capture after moving diagonally up one space.Pawns can only move upward.Knights are the only pieces that can jump over otherpieces. They capture only the piece that occupied thefinal square.6Unlike regular chess, pawns are NOT promoted whenthey reach the top row.7
Solitaire Chess Challenge Icons & Pieces:Solitaire Chess Hints:Solitaire Chess is a hard puzzle for many reasons. To be successful youoften have to play through the whole sequence in your mind before you startmoving the pieces.For those times when you think you are really stuck, we provide a hint systemto give you a boost. On the following pages, for each challenge we providethree types of hints: The first piece to move – page 10 The first piece to be captured – page 11 The last piece remaining on the board – page 12King8QueenBishopKnightRookPawnAlso, you’ll notice we have interspersed the order of the hints, so hints in the samelevel of play are not next to each other. This design is intentional, so you don’taccidentally glance at a hint for your next challenge before you are ready for it.About the Inventor:Our Philosophy:Solitaire Chess was invented by Vesa Timonen, a software engineer livingin Finland. His interests include puzzles, magic, programming and woodworking. This is Vesa’s second ThinkFun product; the first being the AhaBrainteaser, Rec-Tangle.Play each challenge through, then come back in a few days and play itagain and again. Solitaire Chess is not only great fun; it’s great brainexercise. You’ll be surprised at what you’ve remembered and forgotten eachtime you play.9
Hint – First Piece to Move:PawnRookRookKnightBeginner 6:KnightIntermediate 21: KnightAdvanced 36: BishopExpert 51:RookBeginner 11:RookIntermediate 26: BishopAdvanced 41:PawnExpert 56:KnightBeginner 1:BishopIntermediate 16: QueenAdvanced 31:PawnExpert 46:RookBeginner 6:RookIntermediate 21: BishopAdvanced 36:RookExpert 51:BishopBeginner 11:RookIntermediate 26: KnightAdvanced 41: BishopExpert 56:PawnBeginner 2:KnightIntermediate 17: BishopAdvanced 32: BishopExpert 47:PawnBeginner 7:QueenIntermediate 22: KnightAdvanced 37: BishopExpert 52:RookBeginner 12:QueenIntermediate 27: KnightAdvanced 42:RookExpert 57:BishopBeginner 2:Intermediate 17:Advanced 32:Expert 47:Beginner 7:RookIntermediate 22: RookAdvanced 37:PawnExpert 52:BishopBeginner 12:BishopIntermediate 27: QueenAdvanced 42:PawnExpert 57:PawnBeginner 3:Intermediate 18:Advanced 33:Expert 48:RookRookPawnPawnBeginner 8:KnightIntermediate 23: RookAdvanced 38: BishopExpert 53:RookBeginner 13:KingIntermediate 28: RookAdvanced 43: BishopExpert 58:KnightBeginner 3:PawnIntermediate 18: BishopAdvanced 33: BishopExpert 48:RookBeginner 8:Intermediate 23:Advanced 38:Expert 53:QueenQueenQueenPawnBeginner 13:BishopIntermediate 28: KnightAdvanced 43: KnightExpert 58:BishopBeginner 4:Intermediate 19:Advanced 34:Expert 49:PawnPawnRookPawnBeginner 9:Intermediate 24:Advanced 39:Expert 54:QueenKnightKnightKnightBeginner 14:RookIntermediate 29: BishopAdvanced 44:KingExpert 59:KnightBeginner 4:RookIntermediate 19: BishopAdvanced 34:RookExpert 49:BishopBeginner 9:PawnIntermediate 24: RookAdvanced 39: BishopExpert 54:KnightBeginner 14:QueenIntermediate 29: RookAdvanced 44: BishopExpert 59:BishopBeginner 10:KnightIntermediate 25: KnightAdvanced 40: BishopExpert 55:PawnBeginner 15:BishopIntermediate 30: RookAdvanced 45: KnightExpert 60:KnightBeginner 5:BishopIntermediate 20: BishopAdvanced 35:PawnExpert 50:KnightBeginner 10:Intermediate 25:Advanced 40:Expert 55:Beginner 15:PawnIntermediate 30: KnightAdvanced 45: BishopExpert 60:RookBeginner 1:Intermediate 16:Advanced 31:Expert 46:Beginner 5:KingIntermediate 20: RookAdvanced 35: KnightExpert 50:Bishop10Hint – First Piece to Be Captured:RookRookKnightRookQueenPawnQueenKnight11
Solutions to the Challenges:Hint – Last Piece on the Board:12Beginner 1:PawnIntermediate 16: KnightAdvanced 31:KingExpert 46:RookBeginner 6:KingIntermediate 21: QueenAdvanced 36: KnightExpert 51:RookBeginner 11:Intermediate 26:Advanced 41:Expert 56:Beginner 2:Intermediate 17:Advanced 32:Expert 47:KnightQueenRookRookBeginner 7:QueenIntermediate 22: QueenAdvanced 37:RookExpert 52:KingBeginner 12:QueenIntermediate 27: BishopAdvanced 42:RookExpert 57:RookBeginner 3:Intermediate 18:Advanced 33:Expert 48:RookQueenKnightRookBeginner 8:RookIntermediate 23: BishopAdvanced 38:RookExpert 53:RookBeginner 13:KingIntermediate 28: BishopAdvanced 43:PawnExpert 58:RookBeginner 4:Intermediate 19:Advanced 34:Expert 49:RookKnightKnightPawnBeginner 9:KnightIntermediate 24: QueenAdvanced 39:RookExpert 54:BishopBeginner 14:BishopIntermediate 29: KnightAdvanced 44:KingExpert 59:PawnBeginner 5:KingIntermediate 20: RookAdvanced 35:QueenExpert 50:RookBeginner 10:BishopIntermediate 25: KnightAdvanced 40:RookExpert 55:BishopBeginner 15:RookIntermediate 30: KnightAdvanced 45: BishopExpert 60:PawnKnightKnightKnightRookOur solution descriptions refer to the chess board positions, not the gamepieces. As you read the individual solution paths* on the following pages,refer to the reference positions on the chess board below.Chess Board Rank and File (Rows and Columns):4321abcd*A Note About Solutions: Sometimes the order in which you capture the pieces may differslightly from the order we present in our solutions. This difference is entirely reasonable.However, for every challenge, regardless of the order of the solution sequence, the identity of thefinal piece and its position are always unique.13
Solutions:Beginner 1:a2 g b3b3 g a4Beginner 2:b4 g a2a2 g c3Beginner 3:d4 g d1d1 g a1a1 g a3a3 g c3Beginner 4:a2 g b3b2 g b3b3 g c3Beginner 5:b1 g a2a2 g b2b2 g c3Beginner 6:a1 g b3a2 g b3b3 g c3Beginner 7:c2 g a2a2 g b1b1 g b414Beginner 8:b2 g c4a4 g c4c4 g c1Beginner 15:b3 g a2c2 g a2a2 g a1Beginner 9:c4 g c3a2 g c3c3 g b1Inter. 16:b4 g b3c2 g a1a1 g b3b3 g d2Beginner 10:c3 g a2b1 g a2a2 g c4Beginner 11:d4 g a4b2 g a4a4 g c3Beginner 12:b3 g c4c4 g a2a2 g d2Beginner 13:b3 g a2b4 g b2a2 g b2b2 g c1Beginner 14:d3 g c3a1 g c3c3 g b4Inter. 17:a4 g b3a2 g b1b1 g b3b3 g c3Inter. 18:a2 g a1a3 g c1c1 g a1a1 g d4Inter. 19:b1 g a2a2 g b3d4 g b3b3 g a1Inter. 20:a3 g b3b3 g b2b2 g b4b4 g c4Inter. 21:b1 g c3a3 g a1a1 g c3c3 g c4Inter. 27:c4 g b2d2 g b2a3 g b2b2 g a1Inter. 22:a1 g c2b3 g a4a4 g c2c2 g d2Inter. 28:a4 g b4b4 g b1a2 g b1b1 g d3Inter. 23:a3 g c3a4 g c3a1 g c3c3 g d2Inter. 29:d4 g b2b2 g c1d3 g c1c1 g a2Inter. 24:c2 g a1a1 g b3b2 g b3b3 g d3Inter. 30:a1 g a4d3 g b2b2 g a4a4 g c3Inter. 25:b2 g c4a2 g d2c4 g d2d2 g b1Advanced 31:c1 g c2b3 g c2a3 g c3c2 g c3c3 g d4Inter. 26:a3 g c1c4 g c1a2 g c1c1 g b3Advanced 32:a3 g b4b4 g c3c3 g a1a2 g a1a1 g d1Advanced 37:b2 g c1d2 g c1c3 g c1c1 g c4c4 g a4Advanced 42:d2 g d4b2 g d4d4 g a1a3 g a1a1 g c1Advanced 33:a1 g b2b2 g a3b4 g a3c2 g a3a3 g b1Advanced 38:d3 g c2b3 g d4d4 g c2c1 g c2c2 g a2Advanced 43:b1 g d3c3 g d3d3 g a3b2 g a3a3 g b4Advanced 34:a1 g a2d1 g b3b3 g a2c1 g a2a2 g b4Advanced 39:c1 g a2d4 g b2b1 g b2b2 g a2a2 g a3Advanced 35:b2 g d3d3 g b4b4 g a2c4 g a2a2 g a1Advanced 40:a2 g b3d1 g c2c2 g b3d3 g b3b3 g b4Advanced 44:a2 g b1d1 g a4a3 g a4a4 g a1b1 g a1a1 g b2b2 g c3Advanced 36:c3 g a1d3 g c2b4 g c2c2 g a1a1 g b3Advanced 41:d3 g c4b2 g c4c1 g a3c4 g a3a3 g b1Advanced 45:b4 g a2a2 g c1c4 g c1d2 g c1c1 g a3Expert 46:b4 g a2b2 g a2d4 g a1a2 g a1a1 g c1Expert 47:a1 g b2c3 g b1b1 g d2c2 g b2b2 g d2d2 g d4Expert 51:b2 g b3b3 g c3c3 g c4c4 g b4b4 g b1b1 g a1Expert 48:d3 g c4b3 g c4c4 g a2b4 g b2b2 g a2a2 g a1Expert 52:b2 g b1a3 g c1b1 g a1a1 g c1c1 g c3b3 g c3c3 g d4Expert 49:c1 g b2d4 g c2a1 g a2a2 g b2b2 g c2b1 g c2c2 g d3Expert 50:b2 g c1c1 g a3a3 g b4b3 g b1b1 g b4b4 g d4Expert 53:c3 g c4c4 g d4b2 g d4d4 g a1b3 g b1b1 g a1a1 g a2Expert 54:c1 g a2c2 g b1b2 g d2d2 g a2b1 g a2a2 g c4Expert 55:a1 g b2d4 g b2c1 g c2c2 g b2b2 g b1a2 g b1b1 g d3Expert 59:c2 g a1d1 g b3a1 g b3b3 g d2c1 g d2d2 g c3c3 g b4Expert 56:d2 g b3b1 g b3b3 g d3d3 g a3a3 g a4a4 g a1a1 g c1Expert 60:a3 g c4b3 g c4c4 g a2c1 g a2a2 g c3b2 g c3c3 g d4Expert 57:c4 g d3d3 g b1d4 g b3b3 g d2d2 g b1b4 g b1b1 g a1Expert 58:a3 g b1c2 g b2b2 g b1b1 g a1a1 g a2a2 g d2d2 g d415
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Comparing Solitaire Chess to Standard Chess: Solitaire Chess is a single-player logic puzzle, not a chess game. Recreational mathematicians classify it as a “chess task,” meaning that it uses the rules of chess with appropriate adaptations. With Solitaire Chess, the basic piece movements are the same as with standard chess.
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