Test Your Skills: Solve These Challenging Gerrymandering Puzzles

Earlier today, a series of gerrymandering logic puzzles was released, inviting enthusiasts to test their skills in a unique electoral challenge. These puzzles, designed by Brady Forrest, also known as Deckard, require participants to determine how the minority colour can win the most regions in a defined grid setup.

The puzzles are structured around specific rules where a region consists of contiguous cells connected either horizontally or vertically, excluding diagonal connections. Participants must solve for the electoral map where the minority group secures the majority of regions.

Overview of the Puzzles

The three puzzles vary in complexity, offering challenges for both novice and experienced solvers.

1. **Puzzle 1: Easy**
This puzzle divides a grid into five regions of five cells each. Here, the minority colour, purple, must dominate the majority of these regions.

2. **Puzzle 2: Medium**
In this medium-level puzzle, the grid is split into five regions of ten cells each. Once again, the minority colour, purple, must secure a majority, with the added stipulation that no ties are permitted within any region.

3. **Puzzle 3: Hard**
The most challenging of the set divides the grid into seven regions of seven cells each. In this case, the minority colour, blue, must prevail without any ties for first place in any region.

To engage with the puzzles, participants can choose to print them for pencil-and-paper solving, or they can play the interactive versions available online. Solutions to the puzzles can be found at the bottom of the challenge page.

About the Creator

Deckard’s work is well respected in the puzzle community. He has shared insights into the math behind these puzzles, including strategies for their resolution, in a YouTube clip. His continuous contributions to puzzle crafting have been a staple since 2015, with new challenges appearing biweekly.

In addition to these puzzles, Deckard recently published a fact in his latest book, Football School Facts. The book highlights intriguing trivia, such as Gerry Taggart, a former player for Bolton, being one of only four Premier League players sent off on their birthdays. This fun fact complements the hundreds of other curiosities presented in the book, aimed at readers aged seven to 107.

Football School Facts is available in a vibrant, hardback format from the Guardian Bookshop and is promoted as an excellent gift for football enthusiasts.

Whether you’re looking to challenge your logic skills or enjoy some entertaining football trivia, this latest offering from Deckard and the associated puzzles provide an engaging experience for a wide audience.