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Beginner puzzle

This puzzle is intended to be suitable for people who are new to puzzle solving.

Clarification: Both experienced solvers and new solvers are welcome to post solutions to this puzzle.

The following conversation took place:

Knave of Hearts: “I stole the tarts.”
Knave of Clubs: “The Knave of Hearts is lying.”
Knave of Diamonds: “The Knave of Clubs is lying.”
Knave of Spades: “The Knave of Diamonds is lying.”

How many of the four Knaves were telling the truth?

Clarification 1: Often in puzzles with knaves, the knaves are all liars. But in this puzzle the knaves aren’t necessarily liars.

Clarification 2: Each knave knows which of the other knaves are lying and which are telling the truth.

Attribution: UK Junior Mathematical Challenge 2015

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  • $\begingroup$ I would be inclined to stick with the knaves always lie, knights always tell the truth terminology. The puzzle can trivially be re-phrased to fit that. $\endgroup$
    – Arkku
    Commented Aug 1 at 20:55
  • $\begingroup$ @Arkku When I post a puzzle that was created by someone else, I try to use as much of the original text as possible. $\endgroup$
    – Will.Octagon.Gibson
    Commented Aug 1 at 21:42

1 Answer 1

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It is

2

Since

There are only two possibilities:
Knave 1 is true and so the rest is FTF or Knave 1 is false and the rest is TFT.

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