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Mathematics and Chess M. Petkovi C, Dover Publications, Mineola 1997

This document summarizes a book that explores the connections between mathematics and chess. It discusses how both fields rely on logical reasoning and problem solving. Many mathematical concepts like graph theory, geometry and more can be applied to solving chessboard puzzles and problems. Famous mathematicians were often interested in chess, and some chess players made contributions to mathematics. The book presents puzzles that combine mathematical and chess elements, drawing from traditional problems as well as new ones, to showcase the relationships between the two domains.

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Sivasanthosh
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616 views2 pages

Mathematics and Chess M. Petkovi C, Dover Publications, Mineola 1997

This document summarizes a book that explores the connections between mathematics and chess. It discusses how both fields rely on logical reasoning and problem solving. Many mathematical concepts like graph theory, geometry and more can be applied to solving chessboard puzzles and problems. Famous mathematicians were often interested in chess, and some chess players made contributions to mathematics. The book presents puzzles that combine mathematical and chess elements, drawing from traditional problems as well as new ones, to showcase the relationships between the two domains.

Uploaded by

Sivasanthosh
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© © All Rights Reserved
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MATHEMATICS AND CHESS

M. Petković, Dover Publications, Mineola 1997

Mathematics, the queen of the sciences,


and chess, the queen of games, share an ax-
iomatical approach and an abstract way of rea-
soning in solving problems. The logic of the
rules of play, the chessboard’s geometry, and
the concepts “right” and “wrong” are remi-
niscent of mathematics. Solutions of numer-
ous problems and puzzles on a chessboard
are based on mathematical facts from graph
theory, topology, number theory, arithmetic,
combinatorial analysis, geometry, matrix the-
ory, and other topics. Some mathematical
problems can be solved in an elegant man-
ner using some elements of chess. Many great
mathematicians were interested in chess prob-
lems: Euler, Gauss, Vandermonde, Legendre.
On the other hand, several world champion
chess players have made important contribu-
tions to branches of mathematics and comput-
ing science: Wilhelm Steinitz, Emanuel Lasker,
Max Euwe, and Michail Botvinnik. One of
the best English contemporary grandmasters,
John Nunn, received his Ph.D. in mathematics
from Oxford University at the age of twenty-three.
The aim of this book is to present amusing puzzles and tasks that contain both math-
ematical and chess properties. Over the last five centuries so many problems of this kind
have arisen that it was not easy to winnow them down for this book, which is a sampling
of some of the more interesting problems and does not aspire to an encyclopedic scope.
The problems feature chessboards of various dimensions and chess pieces, but real chess
games and typical chess problems are considered only to demonstrate interesting ideas
or themes, such as the following: mathematical problems on a chessboard or chesslike
boards, puzzles that require a chesslike problem approach or the use of a chessboard,
arithmetical and probability problems, chess-piece moves, replacement problems, and so
on. Almost none of the problems and puzzles, from the very old ones to the newest
ones involving computer procedures, exceed a high school level of difficulty; advanced
mathematics is excluded. In addition, familiarity with chess rules is assumed.
2

Aside from many traditional problems that have been passed on from generation
to generation (for instance, Guarini’s knights-switching problems, knight’s circle, the
eight-queen problems, the immovable king, knights crossing over the Danube), the book
features new problems (some created by the author) and many variations on old themes
covered in books by authors such as S. Loyd, H. Dudeney, Ball and Coxeter, M. Gardner,
E. Gik and others. Also, the four complete computer programs in FORTRAN, PASCAL,
C, and GFA Basic are inserted. In several cases problems on a typical n × n square
were adapted for a chessboard. Many of the presented problems have been appearing in
various books and journals for many years, so it is difficult to establish their origin. I have
therefore omitted the literature concerning such problems. For the readers’ convenience,
however, all relevant references are cited throughout the book directly in the text or in
the footnote.

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