Piececlopedia: Root-fifty leaper

Historical notes

The root-fifty leaper is an infrequently used piece in fairy chess problems. It finds it name from the fact that the distance that it jumps is exactly the square root of 50.

Movement

The root-fifty leaper makes either a (5,5)-jump or a (7,1)-jump. The distance is the hypoteneuse of a right triangle formed by the distances traveled along each axis, which may be calculated with the Pythagorean theorem (A² + B² = C²). With this in mind, it has the following possible leaping moves:

• Exactly five squares diagonally (i.e., 5 horizontally and 5 vertically). (5² + 5² = 50)
• Exactly seven squares horizontally and one square vertically. (7² + 1² = 50)
• Exactly seven squares vertically and one square diagonally. (7² + 1² = 50)

It may leap over intervening spaces even if they are occupied.

Note that a root-fifty leaper cannot change the color of the squares it stands on. It is a color-bound piece.

Movement diagram

In the diagram below, the root-fifty leaper can move to all the squares marked with a black circle.