A Puzzle For The Chess Players

[TW]

Or anybody else that has a chess set.

Rules:

Set the board up as shown in the upper picture.

Use only the nine squares shown when moving pieces, all other squares are out of bounds.

Use standard moves for the Knights (two vertical and one horizontal or two horizontal and one vertical). Note: vertical is either direction up or down, horizontal is either direction side to side.

Move the pieces to reverse their positions ( the two White Knights start on the top and finish on the bottom, the two Black Knights start on the bottom and finish on the top). As per the lower picture.


Simple

The minimum number of moves to accomplish this is 17, how close can you come?


TW

Note: Originally I stated that 16 moves was the minimum number of moves to solve the puzzle, that is incorrect, it is 17 moves. I'm sorry if this has caused any problems in solving the puzzle.

[TW]

OK, for those of you that have tried this and are ready to give up, I'm posting the move by move solution. If you want to continue to try to solve the puzzle on your own, then just ignore these three post and "carry on."


TW

[TW]

And -

[TW]

To finish-

I hope that you have enjoyed this.


TW