The Challenge of Move in Pairs

Move in Pairs is a team puzzle that is very difficult to crack and helps develop critical thinking and foster collaboration.

Form small groups of 8 people. Ask they to stand in a line shoulder to shoulder, alternating male/female or blue hat/red hat, etc.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, ask these eight people to alternate F-M-F-M-F-M-F-M.

Then, announce that you would like each group to rearrange these eight people so that they end up standing in two groups of the same type, ie F-F-F-F-M-M-M-M or M-M-M-M-F-F-F-F. No gaps.

And the challenge is to achieve this result in the fewest number of moves.

• All moves must be made as pairs. Any person standing directly next to another (no gaps) constitutes a potential partner
• When pairs are moved, they will leave a gap (or two empty spots)
• When being moved, these pairs cannot be switched nor pivot in orientation, ie if a male is standing to the left of a female, they must remain in this orientation as they are moved to another spot in the line.

When pairs are moved they leave an empty slot in the line which may later be filled.

Challenge your group to achieve this result in the fewest number of moves. The solution involves no gaps in the line.

Allow 20 to 30 minutes to problem solve and refine the most efficient solution. With each solution, if it happens to be more than the minimum, encourage the group to keep at it.

The best solution is a minimum of four moves.

Moment of Reflection

• What challenged you the most?
• What was your most successful strategy towards a solution?
• Where on the continuum of planning and execution did your group lie?
• What feelings did you express or feel during the exercise?
• Did you ever feel like giving up? What motivated you to keep going?
• Where else could trial and error benefit us in our lives?

The topics of this publication: teamwork, strategy, collaboration, leadership, reflection, critical thinking