Is it turkey, tinsel or the tree that makes you feel all Christmassy inside?
For some people, it’s not truly the festive season unti they’ve had a crack at the government spy department’s holiday-themed puzzles. (Not us, we should add: we’ll stick to rewatching The Grinch).
For those who want to let their brains off the lead for a little stretch, however, the day has arrived when they can pretend to be Q in James Bond, and crack some codes with their Chrismassy tipple.
A sample question in this year’s card reads: ‘The letters in TWO UV PAIRS have the values 0,1,2,…,9 in some order, with each letter representing
a different digit. UV+UV+V=VAR, R P P=AIR, SO+SO=VOW… What is 1234567 ?’
Hey, whatever floats your gravy boat.
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Seven puzzles are designed to test problem solving from intuitive reasoning to creativity, looking at codebreaking, maths, analysis, lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance.
They come as part of Christmas cards with three different designs, created by children in a competition with thousands of schools.
If the puzzles look too impossible, there are hints available from the GCHQ website to start you off.
Answers will also be available soon on the QR code printed on the card.
Anne Keast-Butler, the director of GCHQ, said: ‘Puzzles are at the heart of GCHQ’s work to keep the country safe from hostile states, terrorists and criminals; challenging our teams to think creatively and analytically every day.
How hard are these puzzles?
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Pah, barely as strenuous as a Christmas cracker joke
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I have literally no idea what any of this means
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They will require some concentration but I could crack them like a a spymaster
‘I’m delighted that this year’s Christmas Challenge combines puzzles created by our own experts with brilliant designs from schoolchildren across the country.’
The winning designs were by Haoran, a Year 8 pupil at Wilson’s School, London, Amelie, a Year 12 pupil at South Wilts Grammar School, Salisbury, and Mariia, a Year 10 pupil at The Henry Beaufort School, Winchester.
GCHQ’s Chief Puzzler, Colin, said: ‘This year’s Christmas Challenge features seven puzzles designed to test everything from codebreaking and mathematical analysis to lateral thinking and creativity – the same blend of skills our teams use every day to keep the country safe.
‘We’ve designed the puzzles so that no one will find them all easy! Some will suit analytical minds, others require creative leaps or perseverance. That’s entirely intentional – we want groups of classmates, families and friends working together, combining their different strengths to reveal the final festive message.
‘With over 140,000 downloads last year, we know these puzzles bring people together over the festive period. All ages are encouraged to give them a go and remember puzzle-solving is often better as a team effort.
‘We’d love to see how you get on with the Challenge, so please share your progress by tagging us @GCHQ on Instagram, X or LinkedIn. Happy puzzle-solving!’
If this wasn’t enough for you, you can still check out their puzzles from previous years, if you’re not such a genius that you’ve already memorised them.
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