Sam Loyd

"Excelsior"

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Mate in 5, 2nd prize, Paris Tourney, 1867. See "Excelsior" for the solution.

One of his best-known chess problems is the following, called "Excelsior" by Loyd after the poem[10] 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".

"Steinitz Gambit"

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Mate in 3 moves. First Prize, Checkmate Novelty Tourney, 1903

One of the most famous chess problems by Loyd. He wrote on this problem: "The originality of the problem is due to the White King being placed in absolute safety, and yet coming out on a reckless career, with no immediate threat and in the face of innumerable checks."[11]

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This problem was originally published in 1859. The story involves a chess incident during the siege of Charles XII of Sweden by the Turks at Bender in 1713. "Charles beguiled this period by means of drills and chess, and used frequently to play with his minister, Christian Albert Grosthusen, some of the contests being mentioned by Voltaire. One day while so engaged, the game had been played to this stage, and Charles (White) had just announced checkmate in three."

1. Rxg3 Bxg3

2. Nf3 Bxh2

3. g4#

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"Scarcely had he uttered the words, when a (Turkish) bullet, shattering the window, dashed the White knight off of the board in fragments. Grothusen started violently, but Charles, with utmost coolness, begged him to put back the other knight and work out the mate, observing that it was pretty enough. But another glance at the board made Charles smile. We do not need the knight. I can give it to you and still mate in four!"

1. hxg3 Be3

2. Rg4 Bg5

3. Rh4+ Bxh4

4. g4#

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Who would believe it, he had scarcely spoken when another bullet flew across the room, and the pawn at h2 shared the fate of the knight. Grothusen turned pale. "You have our good friends the Turks with you," said the king unconcerned, "it can scarcely be expected that I should contend against such odds; but let me see if I can dispense with that pawn. I have it!" he shouted with a laugh, "I have great pleasure in informing you that there is undoubtedly a mate in 5."

1. Rb7 Be3

2. Rb1 Bg5

3. Rh1+ Bh4

4. Rh2 gxh2

5. g4#

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In 1900, Friedrich Amelung pointed out that in the original position, if the first bullet had struck the rook instead of the knight, Charles would still have a mate in six.

1. Nf3 Be1

2. Nxe1 Kh4

3. h3 Kh5

4. Nd3 Kh4

5. Nf4 h5

6. Ng6#

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In 2003, ChessBase posted a fifth variation, attributed to Brian Stewart. After the first bullet took out the knight, if the second had removed the g-pawn rather than the h-pawn, Charles would be able to mate in ten.

1. hxg3 Be1

2. Rg4 Bxg3

3. Rxg3 Kh4

4. Kf4 h5

5. Rg2 Kh3

6. Kf3 h4

7. Rg4 Kh2

8. Rxh4+ Kg1

9. Rh3 Kf1

10. Rh1#

One 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.

Interactive SVG of The Disappearing Bicyclist – in the SVG file, move the pointer to rotate the disc

A vanishing puzzle is a mechanical optical illusion showing different numbers of a certain object when parts of the puzzle are moved around.[12]

Loyd patented rotary vanishing puzzles in 1896 and published versions named Get Off the Earth, Teddy and the Lion and The Disappearing Bicyclist (pictured). Each had a circular card connected to a cardboard backdrop with a pin, letting it rotate.[13][14][15] In the Disappearing Bicyclist, when the disc is rotated such that the arrow points to A, 13 boys can be seen. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 boys counted, but when it points to B, there are, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12! Only 12 boys.[16]

chessboard paradox

A square with a side length of 8 units ("chessboard") is dissected into four pieces, which can be assembled into a 5x13 rectangle. Since the area of the square is 64 units but the area of the rectangle is 65 units, this seems paradoxical at first. However, it is just an optical illusion as the pieces don't fit exactly to form a rectangle but leave small barely visible gap along the diagonal. This puzzle is also known as the Chessboard paradox or paradox of Loyd and Schlömilch.

A modern rendering of the "Back from the Klondike" puzzle

This is one of Sam Loyd's most famous puzzles, first printed in the New York Journal and Advertiser, April 24, 1898 (as far as available evidence indicates). 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.