Check if Two Chessboard Squares Have the Same Color

Ah, the classic chessboard dilemma! You know, the one where you stare at a chessboard and wonder if two squares are the same color. It’s like trying to figure out if your friend’s new haircut is a bold statement or just a cry for help. But fear not! We’re here to solve this pressing issue with a sprinkle of Java magic.

Problem Description

In this problem, you are given two coordinates on a chessboard, and your task is to determine if the squares at those coordinates are of the same color. The chessboard is an 8×8 grid where the colors alternate. If you’ve ever played chess, you know that the square at (1,1) is black, (1,2) is white, and so on.

Imagine you’re at a party, and you see two people wearing the same color shirt. You might think, “Wow, they must be best friends!” But in the world of chess, it’s all about the coordinates. So, let’s dive into the code!

Language Options

Java Solution


class Solution {
  public boolean checkTwoChessboards(String coordinate1, String coordinate2) {
    return squareIsWhite(coordinate1) == squareIsWhite(coordinate2);
  }

  private boolean squareIsWhite(final String coordinates) {
    final char letter = coordinates.charAt(0);
    final char digit = coordinates.charAt(1);
    return letter % 2 != digit % 2;
  }
}

Approach Explanation

The code defines a method checkTwoChessboards that takes two string coordinates as input. It checks if both squares are white or both are black by calling the helper method squareIsWhite. This method determines the color of a square based on its coordinates. If the sum of the letter and digit (after converting them to their respective numeric values) is even, the square is black; if odd, it’s white.

Time and Space Complexity

Complexity Type	Complexity
Time Complexity	O(1)
Space Complexity	O(1)

Real-World Example

Imagine you’re at a chess tournament, and you need to quickly check if two squares are the same color to decide if you can make a move. You glance at the board and think, “If only I had a quick way to check this!” Well, now you do! Just like checking if two friends are wearing the same color shirt, you can use this method to check the squares.