Test Your Skills with New Gerrymandering Puzzles from Deckard

Today, puzzle enthusiasts can engage with a series of gerrymandering logic puzzles released by puzzle creator Brady Forrest, known online as Deckard. These challenges ask players to determine unique electoral maps where the minority color secures the most regions. This intriguing exercise combines logic and strategy, offering a fresh take on a complex political concept.

The puzzles consist of three levels of difficulty, each requiring players to find a specific configuration within a grid. The objective is to establish regions, defined as contiguous blocks of cells that connect either horizontally or vertically. Diagonal connections are not permitted. Winning a region entails having the majority of cells filled with a particular color. The interactive versions of the puzzles can be accessed online, while a printable version is also available for those who prefer a traditional approach.

Puzzle Details and Solutions

The first puzzle, labeled as “Easy,” involves dividing the grid into five regions of five cells each, where the minority color, purple, must dominate the majority of regions. The second puzzle, classified as “Medium,” expands the challenge by requiring the grid to be divided into five regions of ten cells each, again with purple as the minority color, and stipulating no ties in any region. The final, “Hard” puzzle raises the stakes by dividing the grid into seven regions of seven cells each, this time with blue as the minority color, and ensuring there are no ties for first place.

Solutions to these puzzles are provided at the end of the puzzle series. The puzzles have been designed with care and attention to detail, showcasing the mathematical principles at play. For those interested in a deeper understanding of the underlying mathematics, Deckard has produced a YouTube clip that discusses the puzzles and their solutions.

Related Insights and Publications

Beyond the puzzles, Deckard has been setting new challenges every alternate Monday since 2015, continually seeking out fresh and engaging puzzles. In addition to his puzzle work, he has recently published a book titled Football School Facts. This book features a variety of intriguing facts about football, including a unique detail about former Premier League player Gerry Taggart, who is one of only four players to have received a red card on their birthday.

The book is full-color, hardback, and designed to appeal to readers aged 7 to 107. It presents an engaging blend of sports trivia and educational content, making it an excellent gift option available through the Guardian Bookshop.

Whether you’re keen to test your puzzle-solving skills or looking for an engaging read, these offerings from Brady Forrest promise to deliver both challenge and entertainment.