Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 9 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-09 — each difficulty published twice, once untimed and once as time attack. Each case is procedurally generated and then proved to have exactly one logical solution before it is published, including the cases where somebody is lying. You place every suspect back on the map using only their testimony: exactly one person per row, never two in a column. Whoever is left alone with the victim did it.

Beginner — The Repair Shop

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Office, Parts Room, Paint Booth. Seven statements, four squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Milo was in row 3. leaves 5 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 5 of 22.
Milo was in column 3. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 1 of 22.
Vivienne was in the top row. leaves 5 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 5 of 22.
Vivienne was in the office. leaves 2 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 2 of 22.
Paloma was in column 4. leaves 4 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 4 of 22.
Julian was in the parts room. leaves 7 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 7 of 22.
Julian was in row 4. leaves 1 of 22 squares

Show the squares Vivienne had left

The squares still open to Vivienne once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 22.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Queralt can only be in Parts Room (row 5, column 2) — down from 22 possible squares.
Vivienne can only be in Office (row 1, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in Office (row 2, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Julian, in Parts Room (row 4, column 1).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Julian is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Living room, Shed, Backyard. Six statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bed (square stays free) · F — flower bush · P — painting (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Tobias was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 1 of 24.
Fabio was in the rightmost column. leaves 5 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 5 of 24.
Fabio was in the backyard. leaves 3 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 3 of 24.
Vera was in row 4. leaves 5 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 5 of 24.
Vera was in the living room. leaves 3 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 3 of 24.
Bruno was lying on the bed. leaves 2 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 2 of 24.

Show the squares Bruno had left

The squares still open to Bruno once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 24.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Fabio can only be in Backyard (row 2, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Living room (row 5, column 4) — down from 24 possible squares.
Vera can only be in Living room (row 4, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Bruno can only be in Shed (row 3, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Vera, in Living room (row 4, column 3).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Vera is ringed in red.

Easy — Blackbriar Manor

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Conservatory, Cellar, Foyer, Library, Study. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · C — chest · F — floor lamp · H — harp · P — potted plant · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Enzo was in the conservatory. leaves 5 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 5 of 31.
Enzo was in column 4. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 31.
Felix was in the bottom row. leaves 6 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 6 of 31.
Felix was beside the bookshelf. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 1 of 31.
Julian was in the cellar. leaves 8 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 8 of 31.
Dante was beside the harp. leaves 2 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 2 of 31.
Sofia was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 31 squares

Show the squares Dante had left

The squares still open to Dante once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 31.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Oscar can only be in Foyer (row 4, column 5) — down from 31 possible squares.
Julian can only be in Cellar (row 3, column 1) — down from 8 possible squares.
Dante can only be in Library (row 2, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Felix, in Foyer (row 6, column 6).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Felix is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Steamship Aurora

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Deck, Saloon, Bridge, Lounge, Engine. Nine statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bed (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Dorian was lying on the bed. leaves 2 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 2 of 33.
Felix was in the bridge. leaves 8 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 8 of 33.
Felix was in row 4. leaves 2 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 2 of 33.
Kira was in the lounge. leaves 8 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 8 of 33.
Kira was in column 3. leaves 3 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 3 of 33.
Zaida was in the deck. leaves 5 of 33 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 5 of 33.
Zaida was in row 5. leaves 1 of 33 squares
Ruben was in row 3. leaves 5 of 33 squares
Ruben was on the carpet. leaves 1 of 33 squares

Show the squares Dorian had left

The squares still open to Dorian once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 33.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Alma can only be in Saloon (row 2, column 4) — down from 33 possible squares.
Dorian can only be in Lounge (row 6, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Felix can only be in Bridge (row 4, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Kira can only be in Lounge (row 1, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ruben, in Saloon (row 3, column 5).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ruben is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — Movie Night

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: TV Den, Guest Room, Hallway, Kitchen, Pantry. Ten statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · C — computer · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · R — radio · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Delia was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 6 of 51.
Irene was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 3 of 51.
Jonas was beside the sofa. leaves 3 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 3 of 51.
Jonas was in the same room as Xavier.
Xavier was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 7 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 7 of 51.
Kaspar was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 3 of 51.
Kaspar was in the same column as the painting. leaves 1 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 1 of 51.
Queralt was not touching the outer wall. leaves 26 of 51 squares
Queralt was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Nobody was in the kitchen.

Show the squares Irene had left

The squares still open to Irene once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 51.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Delia can only be in Hallway (row 5, column 6) — down from 6 possible squares.
Irene can only be in TV Den (row 4, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Jonas can only be in Pantry (row 2, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Pantry (row 1, column 4) — down from 7 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Guest Room (row 7, column 7) — down from 51 possible squares.
Queralt can only be in Guest Room (row 6, column 3) — down from 26 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Queralt, in Guest Room (row 6, column 3).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Queralt is ringed in red.

Medium — The Steamship Aurora

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Galley, Lounge, Hold, Cabin, Deck. Eight statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bed (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Walter was in the same room as Clara.
Ulises was in the same room as Quentin.
Ulises was in the same column as the bed. leaves 14 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 14 of 44.
Clara was beside the sofa. leaves 4 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 4 of 44.
Frida was in the same row as the bed. leaves 6 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Frida: 6 of 44.
Frida was in the same column as the window. leaves 1 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Frida: 1 of 44.
Bruno was beside the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 1 of 44.
Quentin was in the same row as the crate. leaves 6 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 44.

Show the squares Clara had left

The squares still open to Clara once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 44.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Walter can only be in Deck (row 2, column 5) — down from 44 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Lounge (row 4, column 2) — down from 14 possible squares.
Clara can only be in Deck (row 3, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.
Tristan can only be in Galley (row 1, column 4) — down from 44 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Lounge (row 5, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Frida, in Galley (row 6, column 7).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Frida is ringed in red.

Hard — The Cookie Thief

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Sunroom, Kitchen, Guest Room, Cellar, Nursery, Living room, Hallway. Thirteen statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — Christmas tree · CL — clock · G — gift · PA — painting (square stays free) · PL — plate of cookies · PO — potted plant · S — stove

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 8 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Nora was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 7 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 7 of 56.
Nora was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 2 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 2 of 56.
Rosa was in the guest room or in the living room. if true, leaves 17 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 17 of 56.
Rosa was in column 2. if true, leaves 2 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 2 of 56.
Julian was beside the painting. if true, leaves 1 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 1 of 56.
Alma was in the same column as the gift. if true, leaves 6 of 56
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 6 of 56.
Alma was in the same row as the plate of cookies. if true, leaves 1 of 56
Quentin was in the same column as the Christmas tree. if true, leaves 6 of 56
Quentin was in row 6. if true, leaves 1 of 56
Felix was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 49 of 56
Felix was beside the carpet. if true, leaves 45 of 56
Felix was in the sunroom or in the nursery. if true, leaves 29 of 56
Katia was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 7 of 56

Show the squares Nora had left

The squares still open to Nora once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 56.

Unmasking the liar

One of these 8 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

If Nora were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Rosa were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Julian were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Celeste were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

Only Felix survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Felix actually told you:

Felix was NOT in the same column as the armchair.
Felix was NOT beside the carpet.
Felix was in neither the sunroom nor the nursery.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Nora can only be in Kitchen (row 4, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Living room (row 1, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Celeste can only be in Nursery (row 7, column 4) — down from 56 possible squares.
Felix can only be in Living room (row 2, column 7) — down from 29 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Nursery (row 3, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.

The motive

This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 7 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Rosa's motive would have been buried secrets.
Julian's motive would have been ambition.
Quentin's motive would have been debts.
Nora's motive would have been obsession.
Katia was not driven by blackmail.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Katia, in Nursery (row 3, column 6). Felix lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Katia is revenge.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Katia is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — Movie Night

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Balcony, Guest Room, TV Den, Laundry, Living room, Pantry, Hallway. Thirteen statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · R — radio · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Wanda was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 17 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 17 of 66.
Wanda was exactly 5 rows north of Olivia.
Wanda was in the same room as Marina.
Alma was exactly 1 column east of the Diva.
Ulises was somewhere north of the Diva.
Marina was somewhere west of Ulises.
Marina was exactly 1 column east of Wanda.
Olivia was somewhere west of the Doctor.
Helena was in the same row as the armchair. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 7 of 66.
Helena was all alone in a room.
Selma was in the same row as the radio. leaves 8 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 8 of 66.
Selma was exactly 1 column east of Ulises.
Selma was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 1 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 1 of 66.

Show the squares Helena had left

The squares still open to Helena once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 66.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Alma can only be in Balcony (row 5, column 8) — down from 66 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in TV Den (row 3, column 4) — down from 66 possible squares.
Helena can only be in Hallway (row 4, column 7) — down from 7 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 6 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Wanda in Living room (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Marina in Living room (row 1, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Gaspar stood in Laundry (row 8, column 1), Olivia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Olivia in Laundry (row 7, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Wanda stood on the dashed square. Wanda then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 2 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Selma, in Guest Room (row 6, column 5).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Selma is ringed in red.

Expert — The Art School

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Courtyard, Life-Drawing Room, Kiln Room, Print Room, Atelier, Sculpture Hall. Fourteen statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by one detective so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bookshelf · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Gordon was exactly 4 columns west of the Chauffeur.
Xavier was in the same column as a desk. leaves 13 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 13 of 68.
Elena was somewhere south of the Colonel.
Elena was in the same column as a floor lamp. leaves 15 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 15 of 68.
Elena and Ruben were alone together in one room.
Jimena was somewhere east of the Curator.
Wren was in the same row as a floor lamp. leaves 13 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 13 of 68.
Wren was somewhere east of the Heiress.
Dante was all alone in a room.
Dante was exactly 2 columns east of the Doctor.
Octavio was all alone in a room.
Ruben was exactly 3 rows north of the Chauffeur.
Exactly 2 people were in the kiln room.
Exactly 3 people were in the life-drawing room.

Show the squares Xavier had left

The squares still open to Xavier once their own statements are taken into account — 13 of 68.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 146 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Frida stood in Atelier (row 1, column 5), Gordon would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Elena in Print Room (row 4, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Jimena stood in Atelier (row 1, column 5), Gordon would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Wren stood in Print Room (row 3, column 6), Jimena would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Frida stood on the dashed square. Gordon then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 142 squares fell the same way.

Gordon can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 4, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.

The motive

This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Ruben's motive would have been revenge.
Jimena's motive would have been debts.
Wren's motive would have been blackmail.
Dante's motive would have been obsession.
Gordon's motive would have been buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
Xavier was not driven by jealousy.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Kiln Room (row 9, column 9).

The only motive left standing for Xavier is ambition.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Xavier is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Bunker

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Shelter, Dormitory, Watchtower, Radio Room, Airlock, Hydroponics, Workroom. Ten statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bed (square stays free) · CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — carpet (square stays free) · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · P — potted plant · R — radio · S — stove

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Horacio was exactly 7 rows north of the Magician.
Abel was exactly 2 columns west of the Journalist.
Abel was in the same column as a cabinet. leaves 14 of 81 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 14 of 81.
Paloma was all alone in a room.
Lidia was exactly 1 row south of Paloma.
Zeno was all alone in a room.
Milo was exactly 1 column west of the Curator.
Walter was exactly 3 columns east of the Diva.
Katia was exactly 2 rows north of the Curator.
Exactly 4 people were in the airlock.

Show the squares Abel had left

The squares still open to Abel once their own statements are taken into account — 14 of 81.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 378 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Horacio stood in Watchtower (row 1, column 8), Abel would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Paloma stood in Workroom (row 6, column 3), Abel would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Lidia stood in Airlock (row 2, column 1), Paloma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Zeno stood in Radio Room (row 1, column 4), Walter would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Horacio stood on the dashed square. Abel then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 374 squares fell the same way.

Horacio can only be in Airlock (row 2, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in Dormitory (row 6, column 8) — down from 2 possible squares.
Lidia can only be in Workroom (row 7, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Zeno can only be in Watchtower (row 1, column 10) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Abel, in Hydroponics (row 9, column 6).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Abel is ringed in red.

How to read a case above

The grid size is the size of the crime scene, so a 10×9 expert case is a far larger search than a 5×5 beginner one — but the difficulty is really carried by the clues, not the square count. A beginner case tells you almost directly where somebody stood. An expert case tells you where somebody was not, three times, and expects you to do the rest — and on half of them one of those statements is a lie told to protect the killer. If a case lists a motive, naming the right person is not enough on its own; you have to prove why.

How to play · Solving cases with a liar · Techniques

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