A five-minute puzzle routine
Four puzzles, one cup. A way to work through a set without letting it take over the morning.
A Toque set is built to be finished, not abandoned halfway. Each puzzle is small on its own; what makes a set feel long is switching between four kinds of thinking without a plan. Here is an order that works for many people, and some ways to keep the whole thing short.
Start with the word
The hidden word is the gentlest start: it asks for recall rather than calculation, and the first guess costs nothing to think about. Use the same opening word every day if you like — it removes one decision from the morning. Two or three guesses in, you will either be close or you will know which letters are left.
Then the grid, while you are fresh
Skyscrapers is the puzzle that most rewards a clear head. Begin with the certain moves — clues of 1 and of the full size, then the distance limits — before writing any notes. If you stall for more than a minute, look again at where the tallest tower can go in each row and column. It is usually the move you missed.
Cards when the cup is half empty
Golf is quick and visual. Glance over the seven bottom cards first and look for the longest run you can see, up and down, before you play anything. If the deal stalls, undo a few moves rather than turning stock cards in a hurry: every deal in a set has a winning line, so a dead end means an earlier choice can be improved.
Finish with the board
The four-in-a-row problem is short but sharp. Read the goal — how many moves you have — and list the cells that would complete a line for you. On mild days there is usually a move that creates two threats at once. On strong days the first move tends to be quiet, setting up threats that only work later. A wrong try is taken back at once, so a guess is not punished — but finding the reason behind the right move is the satisfying part.
When to use a hint
- After two minutes without progress on one puzzle, a hint costs 20 points and saves the morning. That is usually a fair price.
- In the hidden word an extra guess costs only 10 points, so try one more word before asking for a letter.
- In Golf, undo is free. Explore first, and use a hint only when you cannot find a line at all.
Stopping on time
Progress is saved in the browser, so there is no need to finish in one sitting. Many people solve the word and the grid at breakfast and leave the cards and the board for a later break. A day still counts towards the streak as long as all four are solved before midnight.