March 13, 2000
Problem of the Month

The Face Card Problem

Place two Aces, 2 Kings, 2 Queens, and 2 Jacks in the spaces below so that:
• Every Ace borders a King.
• Every King borders a Queen.
• Every Queen borders a Jack.
• No two of the same cards border each other.
• No Ace borders a Queen.

Border means horizontal or vertical.

 
 
          +----+
          |    |
          |    |
+----+----+----+
|    |    |    |
|    |    |    |
+----+----+----+----+
     |    |    |    |
     |    |    |    |
     +----+----+----+
          |    |
          |    |
          +----+

Solution to the Problem:

 

          +----+
          | K  |
          |    |
+----+----+----+
| Q  | J  | Q  |
|    |    |    |
+----+----+----+----+
     | A  | K  | J  |
     |    |    |    |
     +----+----+----+
          | A  |
          |    |
          +----+

Correctly solved by:

1. Richard Mocarski	Winchester, VA
2. Tom Marino	Winchester, VA
3. Jia Ran	Rome, Italy
4. Eric Harding	McLean, VA
5. Liz Cotter	Oak Hill, VA
6. Sam Stiebel	Winchester, VA

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher