Arrange all 8 chess pieces of one set (no pawns) on a 5x6 board so no piece attacks another. Never mind that they're all the same color--it's "friendly fire". Be sure that the two bishops are on opposite-colored squares. There are 6 ways, not counting reflections and rotations.

(In reply to Too bad by levik)

I think it's a good problem, I just haven't been able to work out the answer!

I got as far as knowing that since there are 5 rows and 3 of the pieces (rooks and queen) attack full rows, then the other pieces (bishops, knights and king) must occupy the other 2 rows. Which took all of a couple of seconds to work out. From there I was basically working with trial and error.

I did get a solution where the bishops were both on the same colour, but I just can't find the last step. I'm not going to look at the solution until I've eventually solved it for myself.

Posted by fwaff on 2003-03-05 04:16:56