782. Transform to Chessboard LeetCode Solution
In this guide, you will get 782. Transform to Chessboard LeetCode Solution with the best time and space complexity. The solution to Transform to Chessboard problem is provided in various programming languages like C++, Java, and Python. This will be helpful for you if you are preparing for placements, hackathons, interviews, or practice purposes. The solutions provided here are very easy to follow and include detailed explanations.
Table of Contents
- Problem Statement
- Complexity Analysis
- Transform to Chessboard solution in C++
- Transform to Chessboard solution in Java
- Transform to Chessboard solution in Python
- Additional Resources

Problem Statement of Transform to Chessboard
You are given an n x n binary grid board. In each move, you can swap any two rows with each other, or any two columns with each other.
Return the minimum number of moves to transform the board into a chessboard board. If the task is impossible, return -1.
A chessboard board is a board where no 0’s and no 1’s are 4-directionally adjacent.
Example 1:
Input: board = [[0,1,1,0],[0,1,1,0],[1,0,0,1],[1,0,0,1]]
Output: 2
Explanation: One potential sequence of moves is shown.
The first move swaps the first and second column.
The second move swaps the second and third row.
Example 2:
Input: board = [[0,1],[1,0]]
Output: 0
Explanation: Also note that the board with 0 in the top left corner, is also a valid chessboard.
Example 3:
Input: board = [[1,0],[1,0]]
Output: -1
Explanation: No matter what sequence of moves you make, you cannot end with a valid chessboard.
Constraints:
n == board.length
n == board[i].length
2 <= n <= 30
board[i][j] is either 0 or 1.
Complexity Analysis
- Time Complexity: O(n^2)
- Space Complexity: O(1)
782. Transform to Chessboard LeetCode Solution in C++
class Solution {
public:
int movesToChessboard(vector<vector<int>>& board) {
const int n = board.size();
int rowSum = 0;
int colSum = 0;
int rowSwaps = 0;
int colSwaps = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i)
for (int j = 0; j < n; ++j)
if (board[0][0] ^ board[i][0] ^ board[0][j] ^ board[i][j] == 1)
return -1;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
rowSum += board[0][i];
colSum += board[i][0];
}
if (rowSum != n / 2 && rowSum != (n + 1) / 2)
return -1;
if (colSum != n / 2 && colSum != (n + 1) / 2)
return -1;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
rowSwaps += board[i][0] == (i & 1);
colSwaps += board[0][i] == (i & 1);
}
if (n % 2 == 1) {
if (rowSwaps % 2 == 1)
rowSwaps = n - rowSwaps;
if (colSwaps % 2 == 1)
colSwaps = n - colSwaps;
} else {
rowSwaps = min(rowSwaps, n - rowSwaps);
colSwaps = min(colSwaps, n - colSwaps);
}
return (rowSwaps + colSwaps) / 2;
}
};
/* code provided by PROGIEZ */
782. Transform to Chessboard LeetCode Solution in Java
class Solution {
public int movesToChessboard(int[][] board) {
final int n = board.length;
int rowSum = 0;
int colSum = 0;
int rowSwaps = 0;
int colSwaps = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i)
for (int j = 0; j < n; ++j)
if ((board[0][0] ^ board[i][0] ^ board[0][j] ^ board[i][j]) == 1)
return -1;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
rowSum += board[0][i];
colSum += board[i][0];
}
if (rowSum != n / 2 && rowSum != (n + 1) / 2)
return -1;
if (colSum != n / 2 && colSum != (n + 1) / 2)
return -1;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
if (board[i][0] == (i & 1))
++rowSwaps;
if (board[0][i] == (i & 1))
++colSwaps;
}
if (n % 2 == 1) {
if (rowSwaps % 2 == 1)
rowSwaps = n - rowSwaps;
if (colSwaps % 2 == 1)
colSwaps = n - colSwaps;
} else {
rowSwaps = Math.min(rowSwaps, n - rowSwaps);
colSwaps = Math.min(colSwaps, n - colSwaps);
}
return (rowSwaps + colSwaps) / 2;
}
}
// code provided by PROGIEZ
782. Transform to Chessboard LeetCode Solution in Python
class Solution:
def movesToChessboard(self, board: list[list[int]]) -> int:
n = len(board)
if any(board[0][0] ^ board[i][0] ^ board[0][j] ^ board[i][j]
for i in range(n) for j in range(n)):
return -1
rowSum = sum(board[0])
colSum = sum(board[i][0] for i in range(n))
if rowSum != n // 2 and rowSum != (n + 1) // 2:
return -1
if colSum != n // 2 and colSum != (n + 1) // 2:
return -1
rowSwaps = sum(board[i][0] == (i & 1) for i in range(n))
colSwaps = sum(board[0][i] == (i & 1) for i in range(n))
if n % 2 == 1:
if rowSwaps % 2 == 1:
rowSwaps = n - rowSwaps
if colSwaps % 2 == 1:
colSwaps = n - colSwaps
else:
rowSwaps = min(rowSwaps, n - rowSwaps)
colSwaps = min(colSwaps, n - colSwaps)
return (rowSwaps + colSwaps) // 2
# code by PROGIEZ
Additional Resources
- Explore all LeetCode problem solutions at Progiez here
- Explore all problems on LeetCode website here
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