MathDB
Cono Sur 2024 /P6

Source: Cono Sur 2024

September 28, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

On a board of 8×88 \times 8 exists 6464 kings, all initially placed in different squares. Alnardo and Bernaldo play alternately, with Arnaldo starting. On each move, one of the two players chooses a king and can move it one square to the right, one square up, or one square up to the right. In the event that a king is moved to an occupied square, both kings are removed from the game. The player who can remove two of the last kings or leave one last king in the upper right corner wins the game. Which of the two players can ensure victory?