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The Snyder Test?
So I've been playing around with GPT-4 and some of my own training data (writings, puzzle images, videos, things like that). After some very careful prompting (asking it to write an email and use whatever associated media it could to prove to a friend it was me), my mind is blown away by the result. It just sent back one web link, a google doc that ( Read more... ) -
This blog has moved...
This is the former home of Thomas Snyder's puzzle blog "The Art of Puzzles" from 2007-2012. For the latest and greatest puzzles including sudoku and other abstract logic challenges, please visit Grandmaster Puzzles.
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WPC Playoops
So a tremendous WPC has ended. I simply wish my performance in the end lived up to my own expectations in the way that the quality of the puzzles and organization certainly did. Many thanks to both the Chinese and Hungarian teams for working together to make a harmonious, and truly international, championship. The Yin-Yang logo was quite fitting ( Read more... ) -
WPC Update
I'll limit myself to about 250 words ( Read more... ) -
USPC Preview
After 9 straight years of competing (and 6 titles), this is my first year constructing for the USPC with 4 contributions from me. As such, I will hold off on much further comment until after the test. Best of luck and skill to the competitors vying for a spot on the US team. I think this year could be a wide-open race for the two positions. -
Puzzle and Life Update
This week (yes, week!) is the LMI Marathon Puzzle Test. 12 different authors have put forward bigger than usual challenges meant to be solved one at a time. I've contributed a Star Battle puzzle there, which I hope you enjoy.
Grandmaster Puzzles, my new puzzle publishing site, passed 50 puzzle prescriptions this week. If you haven't started to go ( Read more... ) -
A new gift to Corral Fans: "Rubber Bands"
I've spent at least a dozen hours in the past month arguing with people on "Corral" vs. "Cave" puzzles. It's caused a lot of stress, almost lost me one collaborator, and it continues to haunt me as others are sharing my puzzles in new settings and reviving old arguments ( Read more... ) -
Trapped in The Maze of Games! Help!!!
Yesterday marked the start of an exciting Kickstarter campaign from my friend and PuzzleCraft co-author Mike Selinker.
The campaign is for The Maze of Games, a quite unusual book that is kind of like a choose your own adventure and kind of like The Fool's Errand all under one cover. I've gotten a sneak peek of the current draft and it looks to be ( Read more... ) -
Dr. Sudoku Life Update
I had a post I wanted to make after Mystery Hunt, and it was not the last one that is now at 350 comments ( Read more... ) -
Too Big to Solve?
Not my tagline, but a good description for the Mystery Hunt that just happened. One line of dialogue after last year's Hunt that I led with in my wrap-up was a question of when is too soon for a Hunt to end. I said, in this era of a few competitive teams trying to grow to get over the winning hurdle, constructors aiming bigger was a mistake. The ( Read more... )