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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

By Brandon Vigliarolo November 3, 2016, 10:25 AM PDT on Twitter bviglia

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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

The GCHQ Puzzle Book

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

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

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #1: Who?

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #1: Who?

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #2: Find N

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #2: Find N

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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #3: Fill in the gaps

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #3: Fill in the gaps

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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #4: Maze

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Puzzle #4: Maze

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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #5: Identify and divide

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #5: Identify and divide

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #6: Sums

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #6: Sums

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Puzzle #7: Christmas Songs

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Puzzle #7: Christmas Songs

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

Hard mode: I Spy

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

Hard mode: I Spy

This puzzle features no instructions: Discovering them is part of the challenge.

Good luck–I’m thoroughly stumped.

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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Gallery: Challenge yourself to some of the GCHQ’s toughest puzzles

The Competition

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books

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.

Image: GCHQ/Penguin Books
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By Brandon Vigliarolo
Brandon is a Staff Writer for TechRepublic. He's an award-winning feature and how-to writer who previously worked as an IT professional and served as an MP in the US Army.
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