The Final Problem

Copyright © Richard Sabey 2004

Holmes is at the end of the narrow path overlooking the Reichenbach Falls, expecting Professor Moriarty, but what is this? Up the path come not one Moriarty but three! Can Holmes dodge all three Moriartys and make it to the safety of Rosenlaui?

You are the Moriartys. Choose whether to go first or let Holmes go first. If you let Holmes go first, you get to choose which square Holmes starts on.

When it's Holmes's turn to move, he will move along the lines to any neighbouring square, forwards, backwards or sideways. However, you must move the Moriartys implacably onwards, always moving along the lines either forwards (leftwards on the screen) or sideways, but never backwards. Notice that some squares have diagonal lines coming from then, indicating that diagonal movement is allowed from them, but not all squares have them!

You have won if the Moriartys trap Holmes so that there is no square for him to move to. After all, in that case, the only way is down... into the waterfall!

Holmes has won if he can slip through the Moriartys' grasp, and there is no way you can stop his escape.

Sometimes one Moriarty can get Holmes into a standoff, where each of them moves between the same two squares for ever. Is it a draw? No! Eventually, good old friend Watson will climb up the path to save Holmes.