1) The Boardwalk Misfortune
Puzzle description A man pushes his “car” to a hotel and immediately loses a large sum of money. No laws are broken, and nobody is upset. What happened?
Show Answer
Hidden Answer He was playing Monopoly. He landed on a hotel-heavy property and had to pay.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The word “car” invites you to imagine a real vehicle; challenge that assumption.
- “Pushes his car” better fits a game token than a full-size automobile.
- “Hotel” isn’t a real building here but a plastic hotel piece on the board.
- Losing money instantly without breaking laws or angering anyone is common in board games.
- Therefore, he pushed his token to a hotel-owned property and owed rent—hence the loss.
2) The Unopened Package in the Desert
Puzzle description A man is found dead in a desert beside an unopened package. If he’d opened it, he likely would have survived. What was in the package?
Show Answer
Hidden Answer A parachute that failed to open.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The setting—desert—hints at an accident, not foul play.
- The phrase “if he’d opened it, he likely would have survived” suggests a life-saving device.
- A sealed, life-saving “package” strongly implies a parachute that didn’t deploy.
- The man likely fell from a plane; the unopened chute explains both the location and the death.
- Thus, the unopened package was his parachute.
3) Three Left Turns & Two Masked Men
Puzzle description A person leaves home, makes three left turns, and returns home where two masked men are waiting. No crime is involved. What’s going on?
Show Answer
Hidden Answer It’s a baseball scenario: the batter hits the ball (leaves “home”), runs to first, second, third (three left turns), and returns to home plate, where the catcher and umpire (both masked) are waiting.
Step-by-Step Solution
- “Leaves home” need not be a house; in sports, home can be a base.
- Three left turns form a counter-clockwise loop, like running the bases.
- “Two masked men” suggests protective masks (not robbers). In baseball, the catcher and home-plate umpire wear masks.
- The runner returns to home plate after three left turns.
- No crime, just America’s pastime.
4) The Serial Marrier
Puzzle description A woman legally “marries” dozens of couples each year, yet she has never been married herself. How is that possible?
Show Answer
Hidden Answer She’s an officiant (e.g., minister/registrar) who conducts wedding ceremonies.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The verb “marries” can mean performs the ceremony, not becomes the spouse.
- Many jurisdictions allow officiants (clergy, registrars, judges) to wed couples.
- The woman’s job is to officiate—hence many marriages each year.
- Her personal status remains single because she hasn’t married herself.
- The puzzle plays on a double meaning of “marries.”
5) The Thirsty Stranger
Puzzle description A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender suddenly points a gun at him. The man says, “Thank you,” and leaves without drinking. Why?
Show Answer
Hidden Answer He had hiccups. The bartender startled him to cure them; the man felt better and left.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The request for water hints at hiccups; drinking water is a common remedy.
- A sudden fright often stops hiccups.
- The bartender’s aim wasn’t violence but a deliberate scare.
- The man’s “Thank you” confirms relief rather than fear or anger.
- No shot is fired; the startle cures the hiccups, so he leaves without water.