Written here, solved here
Three original practice puzzles
These small association puzzles were created for this guide. They use original names, settings and clues rather than adapting an official case. Solutions are separated from the prompts.
The case of the borrowed kettle
Ade, Bo, and Chi. Rooms: kitchen, library, greenhouse. Objects: kettle, letter, glove. Ade was not in the kitchen. The kettle was in the library. Bo did not have the letter. Chi was in the greenhouse. The glove was not with Chi.
Solution: the borrowed kettle
Chi is in the greenhouse, so Ade is in the library (Ade is not in the kitchen) and Bo is in the kitchen. The kettle is in the library, so Ade has the kettle. Bo does not have the letter, and Chi does not have the glove, so Bo has the glove and Chi has the letter.
The misplaced map
People: Dana, Eli, Fox. Rooms: attic, cellar, studio. Objects: compass, map, whistle. Each person has one object and one room, with no repeats. Dana was in the cellar. The whistle was in the attic. Eli was not in the studio. The compass was not in the cellar. Crime clue: the person with the map moved the evidence. Who was it, and where?
Hint: the misplaced map
Dana fixes the cellar, leaving two rooms for Eli and Fox. Once the whistle fixes the attic, ask which of the remaining people can have the compass.
Solution: the misplaced map
Eli was in the attic with the whistle; Fox was in the studio with the compass. Dana was in the cellar with the map. The crime clue therefore identifies Dana in the cellar. All three pairwise associations satisfy the clues.
The courtyard note
People: Gia, Hal, Ivo, Jo. Rooms: loft, porch, study, yard. Objects: badge, coin, flask, note. Each person has one object and one room, with no repeats. Gia was in the loft. The coin was in the yard. Hal was neither on the porch nor in the study. Ivo was in the study. The badge was neither in the loft nor in the study. The flask was not in the study. Crime clue: the person carrying the note hid the parcel. Identify the person and room.
Hint: the courtyard note
Use the fixed loft and study before resolving the two room exclusions for Hal. Then the badge has only one possible room. Compare the two objects still unplaced.
Solution: the courtyard note
Gia was in the loft with the flask. Hal was in the yard with the coin. Ivo was in the study with the note. Jo was on the porch with the badge. The crime clue identifies Ivo in the study. No assumption about names or story tone was needed.
Source: How to play. The same case, used as the worked example.
Questions and answers
Is this from the book?
No. Names and clues are original.
Can I print it?
Yes, for personal or classroom use. Please do not sell it as a Murdle puzzle.