Knight's Tour Rules

Basic Rules

1. The game is played on a chessboard, typically 8x8, but can be played on other sizes.
2. Only a single knight piece is used.
3. The knight must visit every square on the board exactly once.
4. The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction, then one square perpendicular to that.

Knight's Movement

The knight's move is unique among chess pieces:

• It can move to any square that is two squares horizontally and one square vertically away.
• Or, it can move to any square that is two squares vertically and one square horizontally away.
• This creates an "L" shape in its movement.

Objective

The goal is to find a sequence of moves that allows the knight to visit every square on the board exactly once. This sequence is called a "tour".

Types of Tours

• Open Tour: The knight doesn't need to return to its starting position.
• Closed Tour: The knight must end on a square from which it can move back to its starting position, completing a circuit.

Variations

• Board Size: While traditionally played on an 8x8 board, the puzzle can be attempted on boards of various sizes.
• Starting Position: Some versions specify a starting position, while others allow free choice.
• Timed Challenges: Adding a time limit increases the difficulty and excitement.

Strategy Tips

• Start in a corner or along an edge to reduce initial options.
• Try to keep the knight moving towards unvisited areas of the board.
• Be aware of creating isolated squares that may be difficult to reach later.
• Consider using Warnsdorff's rule: always move to the square with the fewest onward moves.