Puzzle of the Week for 24 May 1999
Here is a game that can be played on a chessboard using a pawn and a
queen. One player places either the pawn or the queen on any square
on the board, and the other places the other piece on any square that
is at least three squares distant from the first piece. The players
then take turns moving the queen according to the usual rules of chess
(the queen moves any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or
diagonally) except that each move must bring the queen closer to the
pawn. The pawn does not move during the game. The player who is able
to capture the pawn (by moving the queen onto the square occupied by
the pawn) wins.
Is there a winning strategy for either player?
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