talkmagic.co.uk

Not so long ago I started to set my employees a monthly puzzle. Whoever was the first to come up with the correct answer got the goodies.

The problem was most answers are readily available using google and it seemed the puzzles were just to damn easy.

I tried all different types of puzzles and brain teasers but just couldnt seem to out fox them.

So my question is this, does anyone know the source of some real hard puzzles which I can use to outwit my employees?

Our friends over the water in the cafe have some quite good teasers but most answers are easily searchable.

What is more powerful than God?
And is worse than the Devil?
The rich want for it?
The poor have it?
And if you eat it you'll die?

taffy wrote:What is more powerful than God?
And is worse than the Devil?
The rich want for it?
The poor have it?
And if you eat it you'll die?

Very Good.

But so easily googled...

MagicBell wrote:

taffy wrote:What is more powerful than God?
And is worse than the Devil?
The rich want for it?
The poor have it?
And if you eat it you'll die?

Very Good.

But so easily googled...

Ah don't say that, it's the only one I know!

The "Einstein's Riddle" is good and pretty tough. Could take a smart person 40-50 minutes. Easily googled but if you don't give them the name and you carefully change the details (countries, colours, drinks, could even change ciggies for packets of crisps ) then you've got yourself a good one there.

Of course you'd have to be very careful in changing the details.




http://www.manbottle.com/trivia/einstein_s_riddle

In fact, I'd encourage everyone who reads this to give it a go. without checking the answer or spoiling it for others. It's really quite good. But don't believe the story about 2% or Einstein - he'd probably never even heard of the riddle.

EDIT* There are also some maths based stuff around that you could use. Can't think of none off the top of my head but if i remember, i'll post.

You land on the moon. How long is each day for you (sunrise to sunrise)?

I tried the einstein one but the very next day the answer was on my desk due to good old google

storm01 wrote:I tried the einstein one but the very next day the answer was on my desk due to good old google

Dammit. That's one you really have to work at too.

Perhaps you should do like teachers and ask for the working out.

Dependant on which side of the moon, would that not be the length of the Lunar equinox? Maybe showing my ignorance here.

Perhaps a riddle:

They fly at the edges and high if they choose.
But could travel on foot,and have no life to loose.
Used less today,but more in the past
Timeless,I'm sure that I will last.
Place a mirror on me and there is my equal.
But take one away an there is the sequel.
Perhaps you'll see me out west,surrounded by guns and lace.
For do I not live in a box, but am found close to the face.
Viewed am I,but hidden from most.
Placed there,normally owned by the host.

or two:

The ungraceful visitor is always unwelcome.
Which does,as is said, and is mimicked by some.
With the seasons I come,with the seasons I go.
But I am always viewed as little more than a foe.
Infamous to many,but tasty to few.
Personally I would not share any brew.
Many facets have I,that forever glisten.
And where I am famed to reside,I always listen.
Jokes have been said,WAIT! which all have heard,
But the french would say,AH Merde!!!!

2nd ones easier, a bit too easy. I wrote them, so I don't think a Google search will help anyone.

storm01 wrote:I tried the einstein one but the very next day the answer was on my desk due to good old google

I solved it; are you sure it wasn't done honestly? Also, did you use exactly the same words as the classic puzzle? Change the colours of the houses to names (Dunroamin', The Pines), change the nationalities to names, etc.

Someone could still find it on the internet, but to do so would possibly take as much effort as solving the puzzle properly.

There's a part of me that wants to suggest you set your own surreal problems. "A fish, a koala and a coypu go into a bar. The coypu orders a vodka. What do the other two choose?"

There is no real answer, save what you decide. You do not give reasons, "Because that might spoil some of the other puzzles I've got coming up."

If everyone gets fed up of these puzzles (or if someone is actually clever enough to work out what is going on), you can tell them that as everyone was cheating, you thought you'd give it a try too.

I've seen the Einstein Riddle before and managed to solve it; my IQ is probably average at best so I suspect it's not quite as difficult as it's made out to be.

there used to be a website called puzzle donkey that had loads of riddles puzzles that were very very hard, maybe have a look on there for inspiration?

There is also an answers forum somewhere lol.

Failing that if they all cheat and use the web set them a web based puzzle like "grow".

Fairie x

Replicant wrote:I've seen the Einstein Riddle before and managed to solve it; my IQ is probably average at best so I suspect it's not quite as difficult as it's made out to be.

I thought so too, having solved it myself, but then watching other people (some intelligent) trying to do it gave me doubts.
It's all based on logic and how you set the problem out for yourself, so i guess it depends on how your brain works. Being a maths guy, im quite logically inclined, so I guess it was okay for me, whereas for others it might not be.
As i said, dont be taken in by the 2% c*** (not the best).



I liked the idea of creating your own meaningless riddle. You could award the prize to the most interesting answer - but you don't have to tell them that.
- Or, as punishment for all the cheating, make a nonsense one up and tell them they're all wrong.

The Einstein one took me about 20 mins.

What about.....

A man is in a completely sealed room. There are no doors or windows - no way out. All that is in the room with him is a table which has been snapped in half. How does he get out of the room?

The way he got in? lol

Fairie x