Chess has puzzles everywhere. Baghchal has almost none. So we made some.
Below are ten puzzles. Each one is a position near the end of a game. Each has one winning first move. We checked every puzzle with a computer that follows the rules, and we kept only the ones with one clear answer.
Take your time. Look at each picture, think, and only then open the answer.
If you need the rules first, read the complete guide.
How to read the puzzles
- Rows are a to e from top to bottom. Columns are 1 to 5 from left to right.
- "b1 to c1" means move the piece from b1 to c1.
- In all puzzles, all 20 goats have been placed, and some have been captured. Goats only move one step.
- A tiger can capture by jumping over a goat to an empty point behind it.
Goat puzzles: trap the tigers
In these puzzles it is the goats' turn. The goats can win in 3 moves, whatever the tigers do. Find the first move.
Goat puzzle 1
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is b1 to c1. One line of play: Goats: b1 to c1. Tigers: c2 to d2. Goats: a1 to b1. Tigers: d2 to c2. Goats: d1 to d2. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Goat puzzle 2
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is b1 to a1. One line of play: Goats: b1 to a1. Tigers: b2 to b1. Goats: c3 to b2. Tigers: d2 to c3. Goats: e2 to d2. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Goat puzzle 3
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is b3 to a3. One line of play: Goats: b3 to a3. Tigers: b4 to b3. Goats: c5 to b4. Tigers: d4 to c5. Goats: e4 to d4. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Goat puzzle 4
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is b5 to a5. One line of play: Goats: b5 to a5. Tigers: c1 to d1. Goats: c2 to c1. Tigers: c3 to c2. Goats: b3 to c3. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Goat puzzle 5
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is a2 to a1. One line of play: Goats: a2 to a1. Tigers: d5 to d4. Goats: b3 to b4. Tigers: d4 to d5. Goats: c4 to d4. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Goat puzzle 6
Goats to move. Win in 3 moves. The goats have lost 2 goats.
Show the answer
The winning first move is b5 to a5. One line of play: Goats: b5 to a5. Tigers: d4 to e5. Goats: c4 to d4. Tigers: c3 to c4. Goats: b3 to c3. The tigers may have other replies, but the goats still win.
Tiger puzzles: win the goats
In these puzzles it is the tigers' turn. The tigers need to reach 5 captured goats. Find the first move.
Tiger puzzle 1
Tigers to move. The tigers have captured 4 goats. They need 1 more.
Show the answer
The winning first move is c3 to e5. One line of play: Tigers: c3 jumps to e5 and takes d4.
Tiger puzzle 2
Tigers to move. The tigers have captured 4 goats. They need 1 more.
Show the answer
The winning first move is e4 to c4. One line of play: Tigers: e4 jumps to c4 and takes d4.
Tiger puzzle 3
Tigers to move. The tigers have captured 3 goats. They need 2 more.
Show the answer
The winning first move is c5 to a3. One line of play: Tigers: c5 jumps to a3 and takes b4. Goats: a4 to b4. Tigers: a3 jumps to c5 and takes b4.
Tiger puzzle 4
Tigers to move. The tigers have captured 3 goats. They need 2 more.
Show the answer
The winning first move is a3 to c3. One line of play: Tigers: a3 jumps to c3 and takes b3. Goats: a2 to a3. Tigers: b5 jumps to b3 and takes b4.
How we made the puzzles
We wrote a program that knows every rule of Baghchal. It tried thousands of positions. For each one, it searched all moves for both sides. We kept a position only if one first move wins by force, and no other first move does.
We cannot promise that these are the best puzzles ever made. But each answer is correct under the usual rules. If you find a different winning move, please tell us at [email protected].
Want more practice?
- Read our tiger strategy guide to learn the ideas behind the tiger puzzles.
- Read the opening guide for goats to learn how to keep your goats safe.
- Play a real game against our creatures in the Baghchal Online app.
Play Baghchal on your phone
Baghchal Online lets you practice or play for fun in four ways:
- Play real people online.
- Make a private room and send the code to a friend.
- Play 34 creatures that get harder as you win.
- Use Pass and Play to share one phone with a friend. No internet needed.
The app is on Google Play for Android. An iPhone version is coming soon.
Questions and answers
What is a Baghchal puzzle?
A position from near the end of a game, with one move that wins by force. You try to find that move.
Are the answers correct?
Yes. We checked each one with a computer that follows the usual rules.
Do I need a board?
No. You can look at the picture. A paper board helps if you want to try moves.
Can the tigers capture in the goat puzzles?
Yes. Tigers can jump over a goat when the point behind it is empty, as usual.
What if I find another winning move?
Tell us at [email protected]. We kept only puzzles with one winning first move, so another move would be a surprise.