Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles
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The GCHQ Puzzle Book
The GCHQ Puzzle Book
The Government Communications Headquarters in the UK is home to some of the smartest cryptanalysts, puzzle crackers, and hackers in the world. It just published a book full of puzzles to challenge, frustrate, and test readers with some of the most mind-bending tests of skill in the world.
What follows is seven selections from this book of over 200 puzzles. Some are easy, some not so much. The first TechRepublic reader to contact me with the correct answers to all seven questions will win my copy of the GCHQ Puzzle Book.
In addition is one tough puzzle that doesn’t have instructions–i Spy. Part of the puzzle is actually figuring out what you’re supposed to be doing.
You’ll also find the latest challenge to come out of the GCHQ itself. You don’t need to answer this question to be eligible to win the book–it’s just there as the ultimate test of your puzzle solving mettle.
Good luck!
All images and puzzles courtesy of CGHQ/Penguin Books
Puzzle #1: Who?
Puzzle #1: Who?
Puzzle #2: Find N
Puzzle #2: Find N
Puzzle #3: Fill in the gaps
Puzzle #3: Fill in the gaps
Puzzle #4: Maze
Puzzle #4: Maze
Puzzle #5: Identify and divide
Puzzle #5: Identify and divide
Puzzle #6: Sums
Puzzle #6: Sums
Puzzle #7: Christmas Songs
Puzzle #7: Christmas Songs
Hard mode: I Spy
Hard mode: I Spy
This puzzle features no instructions: Discovering them is part of the challenge.
Good luck–I’m thoroughly stumped.
The Competition
The Competition
These two puzzles are the first steps in a new GCHQ puzzle challenge. Solve them both to get clues as to where to find the next part.
Anyone can play, but winners have to be from the UK.
