As you can see, each continues in its same direction until a barrier is hit--either the edge of the board or one of the X's, as shown in the diagram. Imagine each X is a block of rubber that occupies its full square, and each bishop's diameter matches the whole width of its square, so that it bumps into the rubber block on the next square over.
If going toward a corner, either of the board or where the edge of the board meets an X square, the bishop starts to retrace its steps. The same would happen if the bishop were to be aiming directly for a square occupied by a block--retrace its steps backward.
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · F · · X · · · · · · · E · · · 5 · · · · X · D · Z · 6 · 4 · 0 · · C · A · · · · · 3 · 1 X · B · · X · · · · 2 · ·
On what numbered move would the two bishops share the same square? ... and at what row and column would this meeting take place?
Bonus 1: If the two bishops survive meeting on one square and continue on their respective ways, where else would they meet?
Bonus 2: On what move would both be back in their starting position going in the same direction as at the beginning?
Bonus 3 (lower difficulty): On some other puzzle of this type, what would be the possible numbers of places on the bishop's full route where the bishop does reverse his path?
Puzzle Thoughts
