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LeetCode 1937, Medium. Topics: Array, Dynamic Programming, Matrix. View on LeetCode. Generate this problem as a practice environment: tested reference solution, 32 parametrized pytest cases, and a playground notebook:

Problem

You are given an m x n integer matrix points (0-indexed). Starting with 0 points, you want to maximize the number of points you can get from the matrix. To gain points, you must pick one cell in each row. Picking the cell at coordinates (r, c) will add points[r][c] to your score. However, you will lose points if you pick a cell too far from the cell that you picked in the previous row. For every two adjacent rows r and r + 1 (where 0 <= r < m - 1), picking cells at coordinates (r, c1) and (r + 1, c2) will subtract abs(c1 - c2) from your score. Return the maximum number of points you can achieve. abs(x) is defined as:
  • x for x >= 0.
  • -x for x < 0.

Examples

Example 1
Explanation: The blue cells denote the optimal cells to pick, which have coordinates (0, 2), (1, 1), and (2, 0). You add 3 + 5 + 3 = 11 to your score. However, you must subtract abs(2 - 1) + abs(1 - 0) = 2 from your score. Your final score is 11 - 2 = 9. Example 2
Explanation: The blue cells denote the optimal cells to pick, which have coordinates (0, 1), (1, 1), and (2, 0). You add 5 + 3 + 4 = 12 to your score. However, you must subtract abs(1 - 1) + abs(1 - 0) = 1 from your score. Your final score is 12 - 1 = 11.

Constraints

  • 1 <= m, n <= 10^5
  • 1 <= m * n <= 10^5
  • 0 <= points[r][c] <= 10^5

Solution

Reference implementation from solution.py on GitHub, full suite in test_solution.py:

Complexity

Tags

NeetCode All.
Last modified on September 7, 2026