| Sam Loyd |
Article Index for Sam |
Website Links For Sam |
Information AboutSam Loyd |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SAM LOYD | |
| puzzle designers | |
| loyd, sam | |
| 1841 births | |
| 1911 deaths | |
| chess problemists | |
|
Samuel Loyd ( January 31 , 1841 – April 10 , 1911 ) was an American Puzzle author and Recreational Mathematician . Loyd popularized and is usually credited with the invention of the Fifteen Puzzle . As a Chess Composer , he also authored a number of Chess Problem s, often with witty themes. At his peak, Loyd was one of the best chessplayers in the U.S., and was ranked 15th in the world, according to Chessmetrics . An enthusiast of Tangram puzzles, Loyd published a book of seven hundred unique Tangram designs and a fanciful history of the origin of the Tangram. Europe and America were experiencing a Tangram craze at the time, and Loyd's popular book earned him a significant amount of income. Following his death, his book ''Cyclopedia of Puzzles'' was published ( 1914 ). EXCELSIOR PROBLEM
:''Main article: Excelsior One of his best known . White is to move and Checkmate black in five moves against any defense: Loyd bet a friend that he could not pick a piece that ''didn't'' give mate in the main line, and when it was published in 1861 it was with the stipulation that white mates with "the least likely piece or pawn". TRICK DONKEYS PROBLEM Another significant problem is called the "Trick Donkeys" problem. In the problem, the reader must cut out the riders so that they are riding the donkeys. It is solved by an Optical Illusion . BOOKS
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|