Okay, so we havent had one of these in a while. They don't come up very often, but when they do, they're usually pretty fun/stimulating. Of course, i'm referring to topics about riddles, brainteasers, puzzles, basically anything of that nature which makes you think. I'll start off with a fairly simple logic puzzle, and subsequent posts can discuss the solution and/or post new puzzles for everyone to ponder on. As always, if you know the solution, then please don't post it. The puzzle I am going to post is pretty simple and straightforward, and is purely logical. Keep in mind that the entirety of the puzzle is coming from my memory, but I wont leave out any details.

Three logicians, labeled person A, person B, and person C are all standing in a column facing forward such that A can see B and C, B can see C, and C can see no one. A gentlemen comes into the room with five hats; three black ones and two white ones. He blindfolds the three logicians and places a random hat on each man, then undoes their blindfolds. The three logicians can not, by any means, see what hat they are wearing. The goal is to, by only looking forward at the logicians in front of him, to determine what hat he is wearing. They are not allowed to turn around, speak, use mirrors, etc. In other words, they're all logicians and the solution is purely logical, there is no trickery involved whatsoever. The gentlemen first confronts logician A, who isn't aware of the color of his hat. Then it is person B's turn, who also has no idea what hat he is wearing. Lastly, it is up to person C who is able to correctly deduce what hat he is wearing. How is person C able to know what hat he is wearing?

Post whatever you like: lateral thinking puzzles, logic puzzles, math puzzles, puzzles involving pictures, riddles, etc. If you have a solution for this or any other puzzle, then please post it in spoiler tags to ensure you don't ruin it for anyone else. Have fun!

this doesn't work if they can't talk but even if they can it's no help. person A not knowing what colour hat he's wearing only rules out that both B and C have white hats, so he could still have either a black or a white hat. at any rate a logician would probably hesitate to say he 'knew' while stroking his neckbeard

Keep in mind that neither A or B find out what hat they are wearing on their own head. Only C knows what hat is on his own head as a result of the previous two not knowing the one on their own.

if b and c were both where white then a would know he was black, therefore at least one of the two must be wearing white in front of him. if c was wearing a white hat, b would know he himself was wearing a black hat, which would be why a didn't know, so c therefore must be wearing a white hat, which he would figure out just like i did.

if b and c were both where white then a would know he was black, therefore at least one of the two must be wearing white in front of him. if c was wearing a white hat, b would know he himself was wearing a black hat, which would be why a didn't know, so c therefore must be wearing a white hat, which he would figure out just like i did.

No, C cant wear a white hat. You were correct initially when you said that A wasnt sure what hat he is wearing. There are two white hats, and three black. So if he saw two white hats then only black is left, so he could guess. Since he didnt, you know that there are either: a black and white on B and C, or two blacks on B and C(Either way A could be wearing a black or white since there are three blacks.) B, knowing these possibilities deduces that since C has a black hat, he could either have a black or white. If C had a white, then B could only have a black hat(being that both didnt have white then that would be the only one, so this wasnt the case either). Lastly, C knows that since neither A nor B was able to guess, then he must have a black hat.

Edit: Yeah, Jmickle is spot on. Also, I have a nice book called "The Moscow Puzzles" which I might post from later.

Im sort of confused by the setup. I thought that those were two kings, or are you just leaving some pieces out for the sake of it being a puzzle. Also, which is the starter side for white? Black?