One Tough Puzzle

An Obsessive Journey

On my 24th birthday my flatmate gave me a puzzle. It wasn't just any puzzle, it was 'One Tough Puzzle', both in name and in practise. At first glance, the notion that there are 300,000 ways not to solve this puzzle and only one way to complete it, seems rather excessive. There are after all, only nine pieces. Yet, after a few tries, I started to realise just how tough this puzzle really was, and I found myself on a quest to solve it.

I have created this blog, by way of documenting my mistakes and formulating a strategy. I am, though, scared at every moment that someone might come along, ask to have a go and solve it instantly. Something tells me there cannot be a method, and only pure dumb luck in solving this bastard.

Monday, 26 July 2010

Surprise!

I have already completed the puzzle. I know, it's sad, it was over before it had begun. I thought I was going to be an online phenomenon. It so happened that my analyses worked, and I was probably a little lucky in the way I decided to work this evening. It could have taken me longer to reach this point, but, it didn't.

I can't say I feel as accomplished as I thought I would. Perhaps I will just pass on the puzzle to someone else.

There is of course (a rather unclear) post detailing the events of my evening. Much like the last it all happened at night. Click 'older posts' on the bottom right the way through until the end, there's a secret backdated post waiting for anybody curious enough to have a look. I will replace the dim pictures with clearer ones in the day time.

So long, One Tough Puzzle, I enjoyed our time together, however fleeting.