Constant Vigilance 2, Session 14. Friday the 15th, A Classroom. Period 4

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

After everyone filed in and signed in, the Doctor turned on the holoprojector, which projected a large chess board in a peculiar set up.

"Take a few minutes to look at this. It's a puzzle. Black can win in one move. Think hard. Now if anyone thinks they know the move, let me know now."

After talking about the puzzle, the Doctor cleared his throat.

"The reason I point this out is that this puzzle allowed me to trap an ancient evil, an evil from before the dawn of time. It called itself Fenric, known also in Norse mythology as Fenrisulfr, the monstrous wolf that will devour Odin during Ragnarök. Fenric was powerful, able to destroy me without batting an eye."

The Doctor then went on about Fenric at a bit of length.

He grinned.

"So I beat him by being clever, outsmarting him. And using the same principles in the chess puzzle against him, as well as the actual puzzle itself. He was unable to grasp the twist, the complete unpredictability. And here is the lesson you should walk away not only from this class, but the course in general."

"Think differently. Conforming to the mold is all well and good, but being creative, now, that's what makes you an individual. Being quick to think will make you able to overcome all obstacles, and give you a real edge in the world that lies out there. Next week, a boring old written exam. Please keep these concepts I've told you today in mind when you take said boring exam. Now, I open today up to questions, or you just chattering about at your desks. Got it? Fantastic."

[ooc: OCD coming up is up!]

Comments

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Clever, but not actually winning," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia scowled and thought a moment longer. "Well, does the move have to be made by the black player?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"What are you suggesting, Nadia Santos?" the Doctor asked.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"If the white player were to forfeit, then the game would be over and the black player would win. In one move, that move being the white player forfeiting."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Ah, but forfeiting isn't a move, it's a forfeit," the Doctor said. "Also... rather silly to do, in this case. White obviously has the upper hand, wouldn't you say?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia looked at the problem again. "I have no idea. I've never played chess."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Pity," the Doctor said. "Your type of game, I'd suspect."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia raised her eyebrows. "That's great, but, um, doesn't help me solve the problem."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"No, it doesn't," the Doctor said. "You're asking for a hint, are you?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"The rules of chess would be a big help,"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

The Doctor explained chess again, in a quick manner.

"Got it?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia nodded, looking at the puzzle.

"Then this is a trick question. Because there's no way, within the rules of chess, to get the white king in checkmate in one move. It could always just move a square backwards."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Yes, it is a trick question," the Doctor said. "Figuring out the trick is the solution."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia looked at the puzzle again.

"I still say the black player can just knock all the white pieces over."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Finesse, Miss Santos. There is a much more nuanced solution," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"Hmph. Which player's turn is it?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Black."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

". . . why does black have to win? What's at stake?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"It's a puzzle," the Doctor said. "Inherently, there is nothing at stake. The challenge I made with Fenric was my life if he could make Black win."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"So there's no answer. It was a trick to get Fenric to lose so you could escape?"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"No, there is an answer," the Doctor said. "Wouldn't be fair, otherwise."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"You and your 'fair'. Would have been a better idea if the iocaine powder was in both goblets there was no answer."

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"Only if I wanted to be as heartless as him," the Doctor said.

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nadiathesaint]

"Or win,"

Re: The Chess Puzzle

[nine-and-ears.livejournal.com]

"I did win," the Doctor pointed out.