Which mystery detail actually narrows the possibilities?

A favourite colour may enrich a story while doing nothing to solve its puzzle. Compare the possible answers before and after each detail, asking whether the information changes the set the solver must consider.

List possible answers. Apply each detail. Note changed possibilities.

Relevance depends on the puzzle's question

Compare the possibility set before and after reading each detail. A clue's relevance depends on the exact question being solved.

A character's favourite colour matters only if it constrains the stated task.

Did this detail eliminate anything? Highlight one clue at a time.

Interesting detail is not automatically useful evidence.

Resources

• My Puzzle Strategy — Record a strategy and one specific observation about how it helped.

Further reading

• Australian Curriculum Version 9 — Critical and Creative Thinking

Read next

• Finding one puzzle answer does not prove there is only one
• Can these game rules send a player around forever?
• A spot-the-difference puzzle needs intentional, checkable changes

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