Here's an example puzzle using 9 squares and 8 counters:
Start with the counters set up like this:
|1|2|3|
|4| |5|
|6|7|8|
Your goal is to exchange the counters on the right with the counters on the left, so that you end up like this:
|8|7|6|
| | |5|
|3|2|1|
You can refer to the numbers to easily understand the positions of the counters.
To solve the puzzle, you can follow these steps:
1. Move counter 5 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|4|5| |
|6|7|8|
Move 5 to the right.
2. Move counter 8 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|4|8|5|
|6|7| |
Move 8 up.
3. Move counter 7 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|4|8| |
|6|7|5|
Move 7 up.
4. Move counter 6 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|4| |8|
|6|7|5|
Move 6 left.
5. Move counter 4 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|4|6|8|
| |7|5|
Move 4 up.
6. Move counter 1 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
| |6|8|
|4|7|5|
Move 1 right.
7. Move counter 2 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|6| |8|
|4|7|5|
Move 2 right.
8. Move counter 3 to the empty space:
|1|2|3|
|6|7|8|
|4| |5|
Move 3 down.
And voila! You have successfully exchanged all counters on the right with the counters on the left.
Make your own puzzle using 9 squares and 8 counters (four of one colour, four of another). You can draw the square on a sheet of paper and use coins or other markers for the counters.
Start with your counters set up like this, leaving an empty space in the middle.
Your goal, in as few moves as possible, is to exchange all of the counters on the right with the counters on the left, so that you end up like this:
There are only two rules:
A counter can move into an adjacent empty space.
A counter can leapfrog over a single adjacent counter into an empty space.
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