Take a sheet of paper and
divided it off into twenty-five squares, like a square portion of a
Place nine almonds on the central squares, as
shown in the illustration.
The numbered counters are convenience in giving the solution.
Remove eight of the almonds and leave the ninth in the central
Make the removals by jumping one almond over another to the vacant
square beyond and taking off the one jumped over.
You can jump in any direction, and not diagonally
What are the fewest possible moves?
The following specimen attempt will make
Jump 4 over 1, 5 over 9, 3 over 6, 5 over 3, 7 over 5
and 2, 4 over 7, 8 over 4.
But 8 is not left in the central square, as
remove those you jump over.
Any number of jumps in succession with the
same almond count as one move.