Sam Loyd

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Samuel Loyd (1841-1911)

Samuel Loyd (January 31, 1841–April 10, 1911), born in Philadelphia and raised in New York, was an American puzzle author and recreational mathematician.

As a chess composer, he authored a number of chess problems, often with witty themes. At his peak, Loyd was one of the best chess players in the U.S., and was ranked 15th in the world, according to Chessmetrics.

Loyd claimed from 1891 until his death in 1911 that he invented the fifteen puzzle, but he had nothing to do with the invention or popularity of the puzzle.

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.

Following his death, his book Cyclopedia of Puzzles was published (1914).

1 Excelsior problem
2 Trick Donkeys problem
3 Books
4 See also
5 Further reading
6 External links

[edit] Excelsior problem

Sam Loyd's "Excelsior". See "Excelsior" for the solution.

Main article: Excelsior (chess problem)

One of his best known chess problems is the following, called "Excelsior" by Loyd after the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 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".

[edit] Trick Donkeys problem

Sam Loyd's trick donkeys problem.

Another of Loyd's notable puzzles was the "Trick Donkeys". It was based on a similar puzzle involving dogs published in 1857. In the problem, the solver must cut the drawing along the dotted lines and the rearrange the three pieces so that the riders appear to be riding the donkeys.

[edit] Books

Sam Loyd's Book of Tangram Puzzles (ISBN 0-486-22011-7): by Sam Loyd
Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd (ISBN 0-486-20498-7): selected and edited by Martin Gardner
More Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd (ISBN 0-486-20709-9): selected and edited by Martin Gardner
The Puzzle King: Sam Loyd's Chess Problems and Selected Mathematical Puzzles (ISBN 1-886846-05-7): edited by Sid Pickard
The 15 Puzzle (ISBN 1-890980-15-3): by Jerry Slocum and Dic Sonneveld