1. For what smallest $k$ can $k$ cells be marked on a $12 \times 12$ board such that any placement of a four-cell figure $\square \square$ on the board touches at least one marked cell? (The figure can be rotated and flipped.)
Answer: 48.

Solution. It is not hard to notice that in any $2 \times 3$ rectangle, there are at least two marked cells. Since the $12 \times 12$ board is divided into 24 such rectangles, there must be no fewer than 48 marked cells. An example with 48 marked cells can be obtained by marking the cells where the sum of the coordinates is divisible by 4.