Enigmatic Code

Programming Enigma Puzzles

List of Enigma Puzzles

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→ [ 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 ]
→ [ 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 ]

2013

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2012

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2011

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2010

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2009

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2008

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2007

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2006

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2005

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2004

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2003

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2002

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2001

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2000

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1999

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1998

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1997

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1996

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1995

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1994

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1993

  • Enigma 751: Help is on its way / 25th December 1993
  • Enigma 750: Factory gifts / 25th December 1993
  • Enigma 749: Four square digits / 18th December 1993
  • Enigma 748: A far, far letter thing / 11th December 1993
  • Enigma 747: Guess / 4th December 1993
  • Enigma 746: Top to bottom / 27th November 1993
  • Enigma 745: Pot white / 20th November 1993
  • Enigma 744: Infallible card trick / 13th November 1993
  • Enigma 743: Two dreams / 6th November 1993
  • Enigma 742: A protean square / 30th October 1993
  • Enigma 741: Substitution required / 23rd October 1993
  • Enigma 740: Dashing in and out / 16th October 1993
  • Enigma 739: Soccer score / 9th October 1993
  • Enigma 738: The narrow margin / 2nd October 1993
  • Enigma 737: The odd dynasty / 25th September 1993
  • Enigma 736: Which island? / 18th September 1993
  • Enigma 735: Am I blue? / 11th September 1993
  • Enigma 734: Wrong numbers / 4th September 1993
  • Enigma 733: Moving orders / 28th August 1993
  • Enigma 732: To coin a phrase / 21st August 1993
  • Enigma 731: Pub crawl / 14th August 1993
  • Enigma 730: “Hokum” / 7th August 1993
  • Enigma 729: Obey the instructions / 31st July 1993
  • Enigma 728: The bank clock / 24th July 1993
  • Enigma 727: Canada drive / 17th July 1993
  • Enigma 726: The Gruntlings / 10th July 1993
  • Enigma 725: Perfect puzzle / 3rd July 1993
  • Enigma 724: Anniversaries / 26th June 1993
  • Enigma 723: Alphabet fractions / 19th June 1993
  • Enigma 722: Between friends / 12th June 1993
  • Enigma 721: Five-sided league / 5th June 1993
  • Enigma 720: Count of counts / 29th May 1993
  • Enigma 719: Just one wrong / 22nd May 1993
  • Enigma 718: Where we came in / 15th May 1993
  • Enigma 717: Number lumber / 8th May 1993
  • Enigma 716: Many numbers / 1st May 1993
  • Enigma 715: Kick it! / 24th April 1993
  • Enigma 714: Tie-break tennis / 17th April 1993
  • Enigma 713: Birds by the sea / 10th April 1993
  • Enigma 712: Monkey nuts / 3rd April 1993
  • Enigma 711: Padding about / 27th March 1993
  • Enigma 710: Shuffles / 20th March 1993
  • Enigma 709: How many ones? / 13th March 1993
  • Enigma 708: Picnic spot / 6th March 1993
  • Enigma 707: Doing his pieces / 27th February 1993
  • Enigma 706: Change of score / 20th February 1993
  • Enigma 705: Xs mark the spots / 13th February 1993
  • Enigma 704: Cards on the table / 6th February 1993
  • Enigma 703: Let me out! / 30th January 1993
  • Enigma 702: Simple Simon / 23rd January 1993
  • Enigma 701: Free tickets / 16th January 1993
  • Enigma 700: Nightmare / 9th January 1993
  • Enigma 699: Colourful tiles / 2nd January 1993

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1992

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1991

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1990

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1989

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1988

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1987

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1986

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1985

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1984

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1983

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1982

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1981

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1980

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1979

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Before Enigma New Scientist had a series of puzzles compiled by Eric Emmet just called Puzzle:

1979

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1978

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1977

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And before that there was a series of puzzles compiled Martin Hollis called Tantalizer:

1977

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1976

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1975

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1974

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1973

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1972

  • Tantalizer 275: Premonitions / 28th December 1972
  • Tantalizer 274: Goal! / 21st December 1972
  • Tantalizer 273: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo / 14th December 1972
  • Tantalizer 272: The mystery gang / 7th December 1972
  • Tantalizer 271: A message for you / 30th November 1972
  • Tantalizer 270: Cupid’s arrow / 23rd November 1972
  • Tantalizer 269: The last trumps / 16th November 1972
  • Tantalizer 268: Approach roads / 9th November 1972
  • Tantalizer 267: Quince jam / 2nd November 1972
  • Tantalizer 266: The light of the world / 26th October 1972
  • Tantalizer 265: Hot Breath of Passion / 19th October 1972
  • Tantalizer 264: Cross-number / 12th October 1972
  • Tantalizer 263: Today’s the day / 5th October 1972
  • Tantalizer 262: Deadly sins / 28th September 1972
  • Tantalizer 261: Abracadabra Avenue / 21st September 1972
  • Tantalizer 260: Rupert of Hentzau / 31st August 1972
  • Tantalizer 259: Pigs in a poke / 24th August 1972
  • Tantalizer 258b: Dumkins and Podder / 17th August 1972
  • Tantalizer 258a: Days of the week / 10th August 1972
  • Tantalizer 257: Fischer v. Spassky / 3rd August 1972
  • Tantalizer 256: Victor ludorum / 27th July 1972
  • Tantalizer 255: Down memory lane / 20th July 1972
  • Tantalizer 254: Goal! / 13th July 1972
  • Tantalizer 253: Beef extract / 6th July 1972
  • Tantalizer 252: Chocolate creams / 29th June 1972
  • Tantalizer 251: Cats and dogs / 22nd June 1972
  • Tantalizer 250: Just follow the instructions / 15th June 1972
  • Tantalizer 249: Fish figures / 8th June 1972
  • Tantalizer 248: The golden touch / 1st June 1972
  • Tantalizer 247: Tube test / 25th May 1972
  • Tantalizer 246: Call my bluff / 18th May 1972
  • Tantalizer 245: Eating people is wrong / 11th May 1972
  • Tantalizer 244: Faith, Hope and Charity / 4th May 1972
  • Tantalizer 243: Self-selection / 27th April 1972
  • Tantalizer 242: Checkmate / 20th April 1972
  • Tantalizer 241: Circumferential evidence / 13th April 1972
  • Tantalizer 240: Applied logic / 6th April 1972
  • Tantalizer 239: If and only if / 29th March 1972
  • Tantalizer 238: Blue Angel / 23rd March 1972
  • Tantalizer 237: Lock, Stock and Barrel / 16th March 1972
  • Tantalizer 236: Soundings / 9th March 1972
  • Tantalizer 235: Home and away / 2nd March 1972
  • Tantalizer 234: Ratselheim / 24th February 1972
  • Tantalizer 233: Spuds / 17th February 1972
  • Tantalizer 232: No flies in China / 10th February 1972
  • Tantalizer 231: The Elusive Oyster Cafe / 3rd February 1972
  • Tantalizer 230: Women’s lib / 27th January 1972
  • Tantalizer 229 — [non-existent]
  • Tantalizer 228: Top secret / 20th January 1972
  • Tantalizer 227: Darby and Joan / 13th January 1972
  • Tantalizer 226b: School colours / 6th January 1972

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1971

  • Tantalizer 226a: Apples / 30th December 1971
  • Tantalizer 225: Soda pops / 23rd December 1971
  • Tantalizer 224: Happy families / 16th December 1971
  • Tantalizer 223: Heads and tails / 9th December 1971
  • Tantalizer 222: Chef d’oeuvres / 2nd December 1971
  • Tantalizer 221: The four horsemen of the Apocalypse / 30th September 1971
  • Tantalizer 220: Robinson Crusoe / 23rd September 1971
  • Tantalizer 219: Take three girls / 16th September 1971
  • Tantalizer 218: Lapse of memory / 9th September 1971
  • Tantalizer 217: Simple arithmetic / 2nd September 1971 — [missing]
  • Tantalizer 216: Pot shots / 26th August 1971
  • Tantalizer 215: King Pippin / 19th August 1971
  • Tantalizer 214: In darkest Africa / 12th August 1971
  • Tantalizer 213: Puzzle setters / 5th August 1971
  • Tantalizer 212: Cabal / 29th July 1971
  • Tantalizer 211: Faith, Hope and Charity / 22nd July 1971
  • Tantalizer 210: Goats / 15th July 1971
  • Tantalizer 209: Buckets / 8th July 1971
  • Tantalizer 208: Chain reaction / 1st July 1971
  • Tantalizer 206: Tiddlywinks / 24th June 1971
  • Tantalizer 205: Vingt-et-un / 17th June 1971
  • Tantalizer 204: Spud-bashing / 10th June 1971
  • Tantalizer 203: Ten little indians / 3rd June 1971
  • Tantalizer 202: Kings of the board / 27th May 1971
  • Tantalizer 201: Bee-line / 20th May 1971
  • Tantalizer 200: Operations research / 13th May 1971
  • Tantalizer 199: Party piece / 6th May 1971
  • Tantalizer 198: Free love / 29th April 1971
  • Tantalizer 197: Pom-pom / 22nd April 1971
  • Tantalizer 196: Vampire / 15th April 1971
  • Tantalizer 195: Parcel post / 8th April 1971
  • Tantalizer 194: RIP / 1st April 1971
  • Tantalizer 193: Stylometry / 25th March 1971
  • Tantalizer 192: The invisible man / 18th March 1971
  • Tantalizer 191: Best sellers / 11th March 1971
  • Tantalizer 190: Parable of the talents / 4th March 1971
  • Tantalizer 189: Football / 25th February 1971
  • Tantalizer 188: Social statistics / 18th February 1971
  • Tantalizer 187: Men at arms / 11th February 1971
  • Tantalizer 186: Dandelions / 4th February 1971
  • Tantalizer 185: Tantalus Trophy / 28th January 1971
  • Tantalizer 184: Bricks / 21st January 1971
  • Tantalizer 183: Perfect understanding / 14th January 1971
  • Tantalizer 182: Bookworms / 7th January 1971

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1970

  • Tantalizer 181: Safety in numbers / 31st December 1970
  • Tantalizer 180: Voting behaviour / 24th December 1970 — [missing]
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1969

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  • Tantalizer 116: The Munchausen Tournament / 11th September 1969
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1968

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1967

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This list shows which puzzles I have been able to track down. If a puzzle is marked as [incomplete], [missing] or is completely absent from the list then I have not yet acquired a source for that puzzle. I would appreciate any help with finding the missing puzzles. If possible I would prefer a photo or scan of the puzzle direct from a physical copy of the magazine, but a transcription of the puzzle text is the next best thing.

15 responses to “List of Enigma Puzzles”

  1. ahmet cetinbudaklar 13 January 2013 at 11:53 am

    This is the most comprehensive listing I have seen in any listing of teasers

    Reply
    • Jim Randell 13 January 2013 at 11:56 am

      Thanks. I’ll keep adding “classic” Enigma puzzles as I find them. Although I try not to put up more than one a day, to avoid flooding people who want to have a go at them all. So it will be a few years before I have them all (if I can find sources for them all).

      Reply
  2. ahmet cetinbudaklar 9 February 2013 at 8:35 am

    Your listing is growing gradually and as a paper and pencil teaser solver I can manage to attempt only couple of them a week which means decades of trying to solve them with a lot of fun.
    A teaser a week keeps the neurologist away!
    Lots of appreciation for your invaluable work you accomplish

    Reply
  3. Julian Gray 25 September 2014 at 5:25 pm

    Having just completed all the Sunday Times Teasers from 2325 onwards, I was concerned that the rest of my retirement might be bereft of easily accessible similar challenges. However Brian Gladman pointed me to your HUGE collection of Enigma variations. What a wonderful future your hard work will guarantee.

    Reply
    • Jim Randell 26 September 2014 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks. I plan to keep posting Enigma puzzles as I track down back issues of New Scientist (and when I get a reliable internet connection).

      If you want to post any solutions or comments please feel free to.

      Reply
      • Hugh Casement 14 November 2014 at 4:57 pm

        Jim, as it took so very long to get a tellafoam line you’re clearly living somewhere in the Amazon basin, so it won’t be easy for you to get to Brissl public library. Therefore I’ve put some of the early 1200s in my Dropbox:
        https://www.dropbox.com/s/wvaouvv2p12yzf2/Enigma12.doc?dl=0

        Any use? Do you want earlier ones?

        Reply
        • Jim Randell 15 November 2014 at 10:33 am

          This page (“List of Enigma Puzzles”) basically shows the puzzles that I’ve been able to source so far. If the puzzle is listed on this page then I’ve been able to find the text of the puzzle. Some of them I only have a partial problem statement for, these are marked “[incomplete]”.

          The puzzles before 1990 I have been able to transcribe from Google Books archive, quite a lot of the more recent ones I’ve been able to source from the archive on the New Scientist web site (although some of these are missing diagrams), and from the rec.puzzles Usenet newsgroup.

          The rest I plan to get from back issues of New Scientist. I transcribed Enigmas from 1207 – 1295 (although somehow I missed 1234 and 1264) last time I went to Bristol Central Library.

          So I’ve still got to find quite a lot of puzzles. I’m currently missing most of the puzzles from 545 (published in 1990) up to 1206 (published in 2003) – so I’ve got around 650 to source.

          I welcome any help in sourcing the missing puzzles. Photographs of pages of New Scientist with the missing puzzles on are particularly useful. I will transcribe them. But any pointers that will allow me to complete the archive are useful.

          Reply
  4. Jackie W 10 October 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Brilliant site. Am working forward from the oldest. Please could you check the listed link to Enigma 193 6 Jan ’83, as it seems to be leading to a different puzzle (no.1322)?

    Reply
    • Jim Randell 11 October 2014 at 2:59 pm

      Thanks for pointing out the problem – it should be fixed now.

      I hope you find the site useful, and do feel free to share any comments or insights on the problems you try.

      Reply
      • ahmet cetinbudaklar 15 November 2014 at 3:13 pm

        This site of Enigmas has been and will be the largest source of brain teasers I have ever come accross. The more additions the better until we have the full list of 1780 enigmas as long as our worldly life permits , even so there is the following generations who can show interest.
        I again very much appreciate Jim and his valuable friends for their contributions not only in terms of puzzles themselves but also their solutions.

        ahmet cetinbudaklar

        Reply
  5. John Jones 23 December 2014 at 10:16 am

    Well done for hosting these excellent puzzles. It is a pity New Scientist no longer publish them. Where do the puzzle authors now publish? Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  6. Danie Viljoen 3 August 2015 at 9:03 pm

    Jim, I have Tantalizer no. 226 to 378 (Jan. 1972 to Dec. 1974) in a big (133MB) PDF file. If you are interested, please let me know where to send it to.

    Reply
    • Jim Randell 4 August 2015 at 7:30 pm

      At the moment I’m still working on the Enigma puzzles. I’m nearly half way through the archive of all Enigmas published, so I’ve still got around 900 to go. Which is going to take several years to get through. I have thought that once I’d finished Enigma – if I still have the energy and inclination – I would make a start on 80 “Puzzles” and the 500 “Tantalizers”, which I would be able to transcribe from the Google Books archive of New Scientists. That would probably last another few years.

      So, I am interested, but I probably won’t get around to using them for some time.

      I’ll drop you an email.

      Reply
    • Jim Randell 5 May 2021 at 10:32 am

      Thanks. I am slowly transcribing the remaining Tantalizer puzzles from 1971-1973 using the Google Books archive, so I should be able to source those OK.

      Reply

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