Solving Slider Puzzles

[Zandahar 282]

SOLVING SLIDER PUZZLES

In order to better show how it works, a numerical, instead of pictorial slider puzzle was used. Also, a 4x4 puzzle was used, but using these instructions, any sized slider puzzle can be solved.

 

1.  Starting on the top row put all of the pieces in place except the last one.

 

2.  Position the last piece of the top row, under where it is supposed to go and put the empty space below that.

 

3.  Slide the pieces around using the following sequence:

DOWN
DOWN
RIGHT
UP
LEFT
UP
RIGHT
DOWN
DOWN
LEFT
UP

When the sequence is complete, the piece will be in the correct place.

 

4.  Repeat the above steps for the remaining rows until you get to the last two.

 

5.  When putting the last two rows in place, there are two ways to approach this part of the puzzle. The first is to mentally rotate the puzzle to the right and start back at Step 1 and progress down the rows.

6.  The second way is a little less mentally challenging, but will have a different sequence.

7.  Slide the lower left piece into place, then slide the piece that would go above it one position to the right and put the empty space to the right of that.

8.  Slide the pieces around using the following sequence:

RIGHT
RIGHT
UP
LEFT
DOWN
LEFT
UP
RIGHT
RIGHT
DOWN
LEFT

When the sequence is complete, the piece will be in the correct place.

 

9.  Repeat the above steps until there’s only the last three pieces.

 

10.  To get the last three pieces into place, simply rotate them around; they will always be in the correct order.

 

 

[Hope 138]

Nice guide Pandaman.

I do it a bit different with the top two rows.

I would put the 1 and 2 in the correct space and then put 4 where the 3 should go and a random number (placeholder) where #4 would go.

positioning 3 under the 4, with the blank space under the placeholder.

Sliding the placeholder down, then 4 to the right, and 3 up so that the numbers are 1 2 3 4