I get inquiries all the time from people who want to know how to go about constructing a logic problem. The way for me to best describe it is to tell you how I got started. It may work for you, and it may not, but hopefully these tips will help you get started.

STEP #1

When I first thought that I'd like to construct my own logic problems, I started out by working a logic problem in a puzzle publication, and then re-working it following the detailed solution in the back of the magazine to get the feel of how the constructor did it. By following in the constructor's footsteps, I was able to see how he or she came to the conclusions he or she did. I did this several times with several logic problems. This is mainly due to the fact that each puzzle is constructed differently and the solution is reached in different ways.

STEP #2

From there, I used logic problems from the magazines for practice. I started with the easy ones, then sorta worked up to the medium types puzzles. The hard ones came much, much later, and after some experience. :-) What I did was pretty much as follows:

A) Change the names, places, dates, etc., in the logic problem in question.
B) Change the clues around.
C) Work the puzzle to make sure it solved.
D) Write out my own solution, following the original one, but again substituting my clue numbers, etc.
E) After the above simple method, I got a bit braver and sometimes would take part of one clue and add it to a second, and the other part to a third. Literally making two new clues out of the three original ones, but with the same information. Then I'd solve it and write out my solution.

I'd do this entire process with one puzzle, then do it again with another one, etc. What this did for me was to give me experience in writing out the detailed solution, and that is an essential part of any logic problem. It ensures that the puzzle is solvable and the most important thing when constructing a logic problem is that the puzzle must be solvable. In addition, it also ensures that there is one solution, and one solution only. Getting that certain feel for how a constructor takes you through their problem's clues, going back and forth, using deduction and elimination, is what a logic problem is all about!

NOTE: This is for practice only. Never use another person's puzzle to do this and claim it as your own, no matter how different the clues are after switching things around as that is plagerism. Yes, it may be your own subjects, but the clues, no matter in what order, are theirs.

Now we are ready to go on and try a method I call the pairing method . So on to page 2!

Construct a Logic Problem - Page 2 Construct a Logic Problem - Page 3 Construct a Logic Problem, Hints & Tips - Page 4

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