Logic Masters Deutschland e.V.

Labels and Tags

In the Puzzle Portal you can mark your puzzles with so-called Labels and Tags. The idea of the Labels and Tags is, roughly speaking, to put the puzzles in various categories. We use the term Label for such marks which come with a small icon; Tags are short verbal marks without an icon. There are Tags for puzzle types, variants and the like. The Labels describe overall properties which are not linked to a specific puzzle typ.

The Labels and Tags can be selected on the creation page in the bottom part of the form (below the puzzle description and the solution). They are supposed to help other users search for puzzles with certain properties, but also filter out puzzles from their search. We are therefore asking you to use the Labels and Tags in a responsible manner. This is not about appearing on as many search lists as possible!

If you are not sure whether a certain Label or Tag fits, please have a look at other puzzles with the same mark. We have also assembled some short descriptions for the available Labels. There are no explicit definitions for the Tags, but you can search in the Puzzlewiki for puzzle types by name. You will find the default rules for most puzzle types there, and also a list of known variants in some cases.

Note: Some terms describe both a puzzle variant (typically Sudoku) and an independent, unrelated puzzle type. That is why the variant designations in the tag list have the respective mark in brackets.

It is not possible for Portal users to define additional Labels or Tags. If you feel that a new item should be added to the list, you are welcome to either present your suggestions in the Forum or to send a message to the Web team directly.


Standard puzzle

The puzzle represents an existing and etablished puzzle type. In particular, the default rule set for the puzzle type in question is used. The label is not supposed to be selected if the puzzle constitutes a variant or a combination of different puzzle types.

Puzzle combination

The puzzle uses key rule elements from different puzzle types. The underlying puzzle types can easily be recognized.

Puzzle variant

The puzzle is based on a known puzzle type, but uses modified rules or additional constraints. The underlying puzzle type can still be recognized. The label is not supposed to be selected if the puzzle combines several variants.

Variant combination

The puzzle is based on a known puzzle type, but uses modified rules or additional constraints. The modifications to the rule set originate from the combination of several (typically known) variants.

German knowledge

A proficiency in the German language is required to solve the puzzle (beyond a simple understanding of the puzzle rules).

English knowledge

A proficiency in the English language is required to solve the puzzle (beyond a simple understanding of the puzzle rules).

Math knowledge

Advanced mathematical knowledge is required to solve the puzzle (which goes beyond the essentials, that is, basic arithmetic operators or basic geometric knowledge).

Special knowledge

Some special knowledge is required to solve the puzzle, which cannot assumed to be common knowledge. Typically this concerns information which can be researched on the internet.

Beginners

The puzzle is appropriate for beginners. This is not just about the pure difficulty level, but the puzzle specifically uses elementary solving techniques which are typical for the puzzle type in question (ideally with explanations in the puzzle description, perhaps with the aid of an example). The puzzle is thus suitable for solvers who want to get familiar with the puzzle type.

Solving hints

The puzzle description does not only contain the instructions, but also some solving advice, explanations of solving techniques or hints regarding potential starting points.

Computer generated

The puzzle has been created by a computer program.

Computer assistance

The puzzle has not been created by a computer program entirely, but a program played a key part in the designing process. (As a consequence, the solving path could easily contain steps which are hard to reenact for a Human being.)

Online solving tool

The puzzle description contains a link to an online solving tool.

Large

The dimensions of the puzzle are larger than those of a typical representative of this puzzle type.

Small

The dimensions of the puzzle are smaller than those of a typical representative of this puzzle type.

Optimizer

The key task of the puzzle lies in an optimization problem. More precisely, it is a (typically logical) puzzle which has several solutions, and the solutions must be optimized in terms of criteria defined by the author. The final solution to the puzzle is the one reaching the optimum.

Meta puzzle

The puzzle is centered around a task which refers to other puzzles or puzzle types (e.g. mathematical facts regarding grid structures, placement patterns, etc).

Mystery puzzle

The puzzle contains no instructions, just hints or clues. The solver must find out what the puzzle is about.

Cipher

The puzzle is essentially about deciphering a coded message.

Sequence

The task of the puzzle is to find the next element(s) for a given sequence (of words, numbers, etc).

Instructionless

The puzzle contains no instructions. However, it is based on typical elements of known logical puzzles, and the solver must deduce what the exact rules are (typically from a given example with solution).

Multi-grid puzzle

The puzzle consists of several grids. The grids can be isolated, overlapping or otherwise linked. Not all the individual pieces have a unique solution.

Team puzzle

The puzzle has been designed as a team task, i.e. as a complex unit for several solvers. Typically it is either exceptionally large or in some other way designed such that the solvers must communicate or interact with one another.

Permaculture

The puzzle is based on the concept of a "Permaculture": A grid must be broken down into smaller pieces (observing certain rules) such that the rule sets of different puzzle types apply to the individual pieces.

Geisterbahn

The puzzle is based on the concept of a "Geisterbahn": A larger number of separate abstract rule components is given (typically to be applied to a larger group of puzzles), and the puzzle instructions specify which of these rules must be observed in which form.

Matchmaker

The puzzle is based on the concept of a "Matchmaker": Several grids and several rule sets are given, and it is part of the puzzle task to determine the correct allocation between the grids and the rules.

Just one cell

The full puzzle has more than one solution. However, there is one single grid cell, the contents of which can be uniquely determined. The task of the puzzle is to find that cell.

Hexagonal

The puzzle is based on a hexagonal grid structure.

Triangular

The puzzle is based on a triangular grid structure.

Irregular grid

The puzzle is based on an irregular grid structure. (This means, not just irregular regions as in the respective Sudoku variant, but an underlying geometry different from the typical basic grid froms.)

Wraparound

The puzzle lives on a grid where some opposing edges are considered to be glued together, such as a cylinder or a torus; however, more elaborate objects such as a Möbius strip or a Klein bottle are also possible.

Three-dimensional

The puzzle lives on a three-dimensional grid, e.g. a cube.

Filling puzzle

The task of the puzzle is to enter symbols from a - more or less fixed - pool (e.g. numbers or letters) into the grid. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Arithmetic puzzle

The puzzle task is substantially based on the use of arithmetic operations. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Path puzzle

The task of the puzzle is to draw one or several paths (concatenations of line segments) into the grid. For example, this covers closed loops, nets, paths from a source cell to a target cell or separate links between several marked cells. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Placement puzzle

The task of the puzzle is to locate objects from a - more or less fixed - set in the grid. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Shading puzzle

The task of the puzzle is to shade a selection of grid cells. In the simplest case there is only one kind of shading, but it is also possible to use different shadings/colours. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Dissection puzzle

The task of the puzzle is to divide a grid (or shape) into several smaller pieces. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Maze

The task of the puzzle is to find a path through a maze which satisfies the given additional conditions. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Word puzzle

The puzzle task is substantially based on the use of words, for example entering words into a given grid. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Movement puzzle

The task of tbe puzzle is to move the given objects in a grid following certain rules (as in a board game). Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Latin Square

The puzzle task is based on a Latin Square. Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Euler Square

The puzzle task is based on an Euler Square (also known as Graeco-Latin Square or orthogonal Latin Square). Please do not use this label if there is another label/tag for the specific puzzle type or variant.

Knapp daneben

This puzzle uses the fundamental rule that the given clue numbers are "Knapp daneben", which means that the correct value (in terms of the puzzle type in question) is either higher by 1 or lower by 1 than the given value. Variations are possible, for example that the above rules applies only to a specified subset of the clues, or that the deviation applies to the position of the clue instead of its value.

Coded puzzle

This puzzle uses the fundamental rule element that clue numbers have been replaced by letters, and that the encoding between letters and numbers must be determined by the solver. The most common stipulation is that same letters represent same numbers and different letters represent different numbers.

Even/Odd coded puzzle

This puzzle uses the fundamental rule element that only the parity of clue numbers is given, i.e. E/O for Even/Odd (or perhaps using the corresponding German designations, G/U for Gerade/Ungerade).

Dominoes

The puzzle is centered around dominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of two cells. (A complete set of dominoes should somehow bear relevance for the puzzle.)

Trominoes

The puzzle is centered around trominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of three cells. (The underlying grid is usually based on square cells.)

Tetrominoes

The puzzle is centered around tetrominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of four cells. (The underlying grid is usually based on square cells.) The puzzle rules may or may not refer to a full set of tetrominoes - with or withour reflections.

Pentominoes

The puzzle is centered around pentominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of five cells. (The underlying grid is usually based on square cells.) The puzzle rules may or may not refer to a full set of pentominoes - with or withour reflections.

Hexominoes

The puzzle is centered around hexominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of six cells. (The underlying grid is usually based on square cells.)

Polyominoes

The puzzle is centered around polyominoes, i.e. regions or shapes consisting of a variable number of cells. (The underlying grid is usually based on square cells.) Please do not use this label if the polyominoes always have the same size, so that one of the above labels could be used instead.

SLICY

The puzzle is centered around tetrominoes on a hexagonal grid (such shapes are typically designated with the letters S, L, I, C and Y).

Pentacubes

The puzzle is centered around pieces built from five cubes each (the analogue of pentominoes, but the third dimension must play a role).

Chess

The puzzle makes use of (different) chess pieces and how they move.

Playing cards

The puzzle makes use of playing cards, i.e. their suit and rank.

Neandertal

The puzzle uses the "Neandertal" concept, where the number clues are limited to 1 and +, and each clue larger than 1 has been replaced by a +.

Alien

The puzzle uses the "Alien" concept, where the number clues have been converted to other base systems (following certain rules).

Multiple solutions

The puzzle has been designed such that the key task has several solutions (typically this task is based on a well-known puzzle type). The puzzle rules then contain additional stipulations regarding the various solutions, for example that the solver must find a set of solutions which are disjoint (in a sense defined by the author).

2358

The puzzle clearly uses the 2358 theme, i.e. a conspicuous arrangement of clues using the digits 2, 3, 5 and 8.

Portal Special

The puzzle refers to other Portal contents (user names, statistics, etc).

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