# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 50
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/981 "2017-08-16T21:44:24Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Was he cheating (having someone radio him moves?) No. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/982 "2017-08-16T23:21:20Z")
I did actually just come up with a new one earlier today, but since we’ve got a few questions going on this one, I’ll wait. Was Michael still capable of playing blindfold chess at all? Was Michael still capable of playing blindfold chess proficiently? And one that I think might be key: After Michael stopped playing blindfold chess, did he consider his situation to be significantly better than it was when he was playing? If the answer to that last question is “yes”, then I’m pretty sure that I know it, and so will lay off of the questions for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/983 "2017-08-17T00:10:15Z")
Was there some sort of health concern over playing blind chess? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/984 "2017-08-17T00:48:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1. I did actually just come up with a new one earlier today, but since we’ve got a few questions going on this one, I’ll wait. > > 2. Was Michael still capable of playing blindfold chess at all? > > 3. Was Michael still capable of playing blindfold chess proficiently? > > And one that I think might be key: > 4. After Michael stopped playing blindfold chess, did he consider his situation to be significantly better than it was when he was playing? > > If the answer to that last question is “yes”, then I’m pretty sure that I know it, and so will lay off of the questions for a while. 1. Cool, you got next. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. No. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was there some sort of health concern over playing blind chess? No. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/985 "2017-08-17T01:07:17Z")
OK, then, since my key question got a “no”, I guess I have no clue. I thought maybe he was a POW, and played blind chess because there wasn’t much else the prisoners could do to pass the time (this was a real thing, BTW), and then never played again after he was freed. But if that were the case, he’d certainly consider his situation to be much better afterwards. 1: Did Michael continue to play (normal, non-blindfolded) chess? 2: Did he give up blindfolded chess because he took up some new activity? 3: Was there some well-defined event that caused him to stop playing blindfolded chess? (for instance, winning a particular tournament, or graduating from college, or having a baby) 4: Was Michael’s time of playing blindfolded chess in the 20th century? 5: Was it in the 21st century? Given the current state of the game, I think I need to ask: 6: Is Michael human? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/986 "2017-08-17T01:09:04Z")
Did the government get involved somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/987 "2017-08-17T01:51:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, then, since my key question got a “no”, I guess I have no clue. I thought maybe he was a POW, and played blind chess because there wasn’t much else the prisoners could do to pass the time (this was a real thing, BTW), and then never played again after he was freed. But if that were the case, he’d certainly consider his situation to be much better afterwards. > > 1: Did Michael continue to play (normal, non-blindfolded) chess? > 2: Did he give up blindfolded chess because he took up some new activity? > 3: Was there some well-defined event that caused him to stop playing blindfolded chess? (for instance, winning a particular tournament, or graduating from college, or having a baby) > 4: Was Michael’s time of playing blindfolded chess in the 20th century? > 5: Was it in the 21st century? > > Given the current state of the game, I think I need to ask: > 6: Is Michael human? 1. Yes. 2. No. 3. Yes. 4. Yes. 5. No. 6. Yes > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Did the government get involved somehow? In stopping him from playing? No. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/988 "2017-08-17T03:11:34Z")
1: Before he stopped playing blindfold chess, did he also play normal chess? 2: Before he stopped playing blindfold chess, did he play normal chess at a high competitive level? 3: Was the well-defined event that caused him to stop playing blindfold one which a normal person would consider happy? 4: Was the event one which he considered happy? 5: Would a normal person view his ceasing to play blindfolded chess as a sane response to that event? 6: Was his ceasing of playing blindfold chess in part due to a lack of opponents? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/989 "2017-08-17T03:26:11Z")
Did he become Zorro? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/990 "2017-08-17T03:29:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1: Before he stopped playing blindfold chess, did he also play normal chess? > 2: Before he stopped playing blindfold chess, did he play normal chess at a high competitive level? > 3: Was the well-defined event that caused him to stop playing blindfold one which a normal person would consider happy? > 4: Was the event one which he considered happy? > 5: Would a normal person view his ceasing to play blindfolded chess as a sane response to that event? > 6: Was his ceasing of playing blindfold chess in part due to a lack of opponents? 1. Yes. 2. Yes 3. No 4. No 5. Yes, I think so. 6. No. > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Did he become Zorro? No. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/991 "2017-08-17T05:32:40Z")
Is his decision to stop playing blind chess related to a death in some way? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/992 "2017-08-17T05:43:16Z")
Was he imprisoned? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/993 "2017-08-17T06:58:22Z")
Was he put in solitary confinement? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/994 "2017-08-17T12:40:47Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is his decision to stop playing blind chess related to a death in some way? Yes. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was he imprisoned? No. > [@Quartz](#): > > Was he put in solitary confinement? No. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/995 "2017-08-17T13:01:47Z")
1: Did he stop due to the death of another chess player? 2: Did he stop due to the death of someone personally close to him? (a family member, lover, etc.) 3: Was there any reasonably-plausible circumstance under which he would resume playing blindfold chess? 4: Did he decide to stop playing blindfold chess? 5: Did he decide to stop playing for emotional reasons? 6: Did he decide to stop playing for pragmatic reasons? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/996 "2017-08-17T13:06:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1: Did he stop due to the death of another chess player? > 2: Did he stop due to the death of someone personally close to him? (a family member, lover, etc.) > 3: Was there any reasonably-plausible circumstance under which he would resume playing blindfold chess? > 4: Did he decide to stop playing blindfold chess? > 5: Did he decide to stop playing for emotional reasons? > 6: Did he decide to stop playing for pragmatic reasons? 1. No. 2. Yes.\* 3. No, I don’t think so. 4. Yes. 5. Yes. 6. No \*More to it, but I think “yes” is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/997 "2017-08-17T13:09:01Z")
Was the death his twin? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/998 "2017-08-17T13:54:15Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was the death his twin? No. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/999 "2017-08-17T14:02:24Z")
To be honest, I’m having a hard time seeing what’s left to be unraveled. He played, then someone close to him died, and it affected him emotionally enough that he stopped playing. 1: Did he take up blindfolded chess in the first place because of the person who died? 2: Did he feel guilty about the person’s death? 3: Was the person’s death in some way directly or indirectly caused by his playing? 4: Was some other bad outcome directly or indirectly caused by his playing? Maybe he was off at a tournament showing off while a loved one was dying, and he felt guilty about not being with them at the end? EDIT: Another one. 5: Was the nature of his relationship to the person who died relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1000 "2017-08-17T14:22:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1: Did he take up blindfolded chess in the first place because of the person who died? > 2: Did he feel guilty about the person’s death? > 3: Was the person’s death in some way directly or indirectly caused by his playing? > 4: Was some other bad outcome directly or indirectly caused by his playing? > > 4.5 Maybe he was off at a tournament showing off while a loved one was dying, and he felt guilty about not being with them at the end? > > 5: Was the nature of his relationship to the person who died relevant? 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. no. 4.5. - No. 5. Not really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=51)