JUNE 2026 PUZZLE – “Losing Either Way”
Submitted by Dave Thomas
The June Puzzle: You have been captured by the henchmen of the Mango Mussolini, and dragged before the Court. The Supreme Judge informs you that you must provide a statement about an observable fact. If the statement is True, you will be killed by a Firing Squad. If the statement is False, you will be killed by Lethal Injection. After you make your statement, however, the Judge reluctantly sets you free.
The June Bonus: What was your statement?
May 2026 Puzzle – “Pirate Gold”
There are 5 islands in a row. The Pirate known as the Mandarin Menace has a ton of gold hidden on one of them. During the day you have enough time to sail to just one island to find the gold. But, every night, the pirate moves all that gold exactly one island over. If it was on island 3, it gets moved to either island 2 or 4.
The May Bonus: What is the best strategy for finding the gold? Is it possible to be sure of finding the gold?
Hall of Fame (May Puzzle Solvers):
Mike Arms (NM)
Keith Gilbert (NM)
Harold H. Gaines (KS)
Searching islands 2, 3, 4, then 2, 3, 4 again is guaranteed to find the gold. It is amazing!