So...I had several puzzles to occupy my guests at my "Secret" (Agent) Birthday Party.  Since 50 people were coming (and likely working with each other), I worried that they might be too easy.  As the Second City Manual of Improvisation tells me, play up to the full intelligence of your character.  And since many smart people were coming, I purposely set them at a level that would be challenging for myself.  Everyone says that the puzzles were too hard (the winner got 3 out of 9 right).  Were they?  Just for yourself...

Question 001 (source: "Mensa Presents: The Covert Challenge")

Question 002 (source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adam.bozon/ChessPuzzles.htm)

White to play and win in 2 moves

White’s first move?

Question 003: (I made this puzzle up myself the night before).

It was a digital picture frame cycling the following pictures:

So...what's the answer?

Question 004: "Petals of the Rose"

This was Question 12 from this website:
http://www.folj.com/puzzles/

Note that despite this puzzles being labeled "Very Easy"...no one got it at the party :(.

("A claim that often accompanies these instructions is that the smarter an individual, the greater amount of difficulty the individual will have in solving it. If such a statement is true, it may be attributed to the fact that "smarter" people tend to be more knowledgeable in a wide range of information which they may unnecessarily attempt to draw upon to solve the puzzle" - yes, THAT's why no one got it :))

Question 005 (source, with some modifications: http://www.websudoku.com/)

Question 006 (source: I made this up the hour before the party)

What card should be the one that is face down ?

(guests noted that the question wasn't clear - I'm actually asking: "What card is face down?"  Not that it mattered, I was surprised that no one came close to solving it :()

In case you can't read the cards, clockwise from the top:

Three of Cups (III)
Temperance (XIV)
The Devil (XV)
Nine of Wands (IX)
Two of Cups (II)
Six of Pentacles (VI)
Five of Swords (V)
Three of Wands (III)
Five of Cups (V)
Eight of Pentacles (VIII)
Nine of Swords (IX)
?????

Question 007 (source: I made this up the night before)

JAMES BOND TRIVIA

The answer is a string of ten characters.

001) What was the name of Maximilian Largo’s boat in Never Say Never Again?  Hint: It’s the English translation of the name of Emilio Largo’s boat in Thunderball.  First letter, first word (“The” doesn’t count in this case).

002) What hit 80’s band did the theme song for The Living Daylights?  First letter, first word.

003) The original Bond actor, Sean Connery, was replaced by whom in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service?  First letter, last name.

004) That replacement only lasted for the one film.  Who played Bond in the next film? First letter, last name.

005) Austin Powers’  Dr. Evil is mostly based on which character?  Last letter, middle name.

006) Daniel Craig played Bond in Casino Royale in 2006.  Who played James Bond in the non-EON 1967 version?  Last letter, last name.

007) In Goldeneye, 007’s antagonist is a former 00 agent - what number?  (Last digit)

008) In Die Another Day, what Asian American actor stars as the main henchman, Zao?  First letter, last name.

009) Name the CIA agent that’s been played by 7 different actors over the years. Fifth letter, first name.

010) Major Boothroyd is better known as?  First letter, first word.

___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___
001	002	003	004	005	006	007	008	009	010

Question 008 (source: I made this one up two nights before)

There's actually no way that you can solve this online.  You actually have to be physically present to solve it.  Next time you're at my house, I'll show you - you'll be surprised :).

Question 009 (source: I made this one up myself that morning)

Ankara

Ashgabat

Athens

Beijing

Dushanbe

Kabul

Lisbon

Madrid

Pyongyang

Rome

Seoul

Tashkent

Tehran

Tokyo

________?

(Hint: it REALLY helps to have a globe or map handy for this one)

BONUS QUESTION (source: I made this up an hour before, with help from Wikipedia :))

If your complaint is that there are too many puzzles that are “guy”-centric – you’re right.  I’m a guy :P – so to make up for it, here’s some questions re: Sex in the City.  Not to stereotype, but I think the women in the audience will be at an advantage on this one.  Successfully answering this will make up for any one incorrect answer on your sheet.

1) What is “Big”’s actual name (revealed in the movie)? (First letter, first name; first letter, last name)

2) What newspaper did Carrie’s column “Sex in the City” appear in? (first two letters, last word)

3) Samantha is how old at the end of the Sex in the City movie? (both numbers)

4) What is the name of Miranda’s husband? (First letter, first name; first letter, last name)

5) Charlotte went to Smith College – majored in what (first letter, first word) and minored in what (first letter, first word)?

___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___	___
1		2		3		4		5

SO...how did you do?