Here is a new puzzle with moving counters, or coins, that at first
glance looks as if it must be absurdly simple. But it will be found
quite a little perplexity. I give it in this place for a reason that I
will explain when we come to the next puzzle. Copy the simple diagram,
enlarged, on a sheet of paper; then place two white counters on the
points 1 and 2, and two red counters on 9 and 10, The puzzle is to make
the red and white change places. You may move the counters one at a time
in any order you like, along the lines from point to point, with the
only restriction that a red and a white counter may never stand at once
on the same straight line. Thus the first move can only be from 1 or 2
to 3, or from 9 or 10 to 7.
[Illustration:
4 8
/ \ / \
2 6 10
\ / \ /
3 7
/ \ / \
1 5 9
]