Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/251 - Nine Men in a Trench

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $251$

Nine Men in a Trench

Here are nine men in a trench.

No. $1$ is the sergeant, who wishes to place himself at the other end of the line -- at point $1$ --

all the other men returning to their proper places at present.

There is no room to pass in the trench, and for a man to climb over another would be a dangerous exposure.

But it is not difficult with these three recesses, each of which will hold a man.

How is it to be done with the fewest possible moves?

A man may go any distance that is possible in a move.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Moving Counter Problems: $251$. -- Nine Men in a Trench
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Geometrical Problems: Moving Counter Puzzles: $376$. Nine Men in a Trench