Sam Loyd

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For people with a similar name, see Sam Lloyd.
Sam Loyd

Born Samuel Loyd
January 31, 1841(1841-01-31)
Philadelphia, USA
Died April 10, 1911 (aged 70)
USA
Known for Chess, Puzzles

Samuel Loyd (January 31, 1841–April 10, 1911), born in Philadelphia and raised in New York, was an American chess player, chess composer, 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.com. His playing style was flawed, as he tried to create fantastic combinations over the board, rather than simplifying and going for the win.

Loyd claimed from 1891 until his death in 1911 that he invented the fifteen puzzle. However, a recent book [1] contends that he merely modified a previously existing 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 5000 Puzzles [2] was published (1914) by his son. Loyd was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

Contents

[edit] Excelsior problem

Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 nd b8 c8 rd d8 bd e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 pd c7 d7 e7 f7 pd g7 h7 pd
a6 b6 pd c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 rl c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 kl
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 pd b3 c3 d3 e3 pd f3 g3 pl h3 nl
a2 b2 pl c2 pl d2 e2 rl f2 g2 h2
a1 nl b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 kd
Image:chess zhor 26.png
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.
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 rearrange the three pieces so that the riders appear to be riding the donkeys.

[edit] Back from the klondike

Puzzle
Puzzle

This is one of Sam Loyd's most famous puzzles. Loyd's original instructions were to:

Start from that heart in the center and go three steps in a straight line in any one of the eight directions, north, south, east or west, or on the bias, as the ladies say, northeast, northwest, southeast or southwest. When you have gone three steps in a straight line, you will reach a square with a number on it, which indicates the second day's journey, as many steps as it tells, in a straight line in any of the eight directions. From this new point when reached, march on again according to the number indicated, and continue on, following the requirements of the numbers reached, until you come upon a square with a number which will carry you just one step beyond the border, when you are supposed to be out of the woods and can holler all you want, as you will have solved the puzzle.

First printed in the New York Journal and Advertiser, April 24, 1898 (as far as available evidence indicates).

The solution exists and can be found elsewhere on the Internet.

[edit] Books

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

[edit] References

  1. ^ The 15 Puzzle (ISBN 1-890980-15-3): by Jerry Slocum and Dic Sonneveld
  2. ^ Sam Loyd's Cyclopedia of 5000 Puzzles, Tricks and Conundrums with Answers ISBN 0-923891-78-1

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Loyd, Sam
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Loyd, Samuel
SHORT DESCRIPTION Chess player, puzzlist
DATE OF BIRTH 1841-01-31
PLACE OF BIRTH Philadelphia, USA
DATE OF DEATH 1911-04-11
PLACE OF DEATH USA