Applications of puzzle theory in solving puzzles

[Scott Blomquist]

An excellent question that Alexandra Dixon asked me last night after the summit: does puzzle theory have applications in solving, as well as constructing, puzzles?

It absolutely does. In fact, that's really what got me started thinking about this. I'm not one of those solvers who can look at a puzzle and intuit the answer. My internal solving process is probably best described as "puzzle analysis". It involves working through the puzzle graph in my mind. 

Anyone else done any reflection on their internal process for solving puzzles?

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http://scott.blomqui.st