Mystery Master	Analysis of Playing Cards	Member

This one-star logic puzzle has 3 noun types, 4 nouns per type, 3 links, 6 facts and 3 rules (all with triggers). Before we solve this puzzle, let's take a look at its rules.

Rules

1. Chet holds the highest red card.
2. Bart and Kitty hold cards of the same color.
3. The sum of the spade and diamond is higher than the sum of the club and heart.

Let's see if we can violate any the rules. To attempt this, we first need to disable triggers and laws.

One way to violate the first rule is to posit Chet has the 3 of diamonds, and the 5 is a heart.

One way to violate the second rule is to posit Bart has a club and Kitty has a heart.

To violate the third rule, try the 2 of spades, 3 of diamonds, 4 of clubs, and the 5 of hearts. Question: what happens if we posit 2 of spades, 5 of diamonds, 4 of clubs, and 3 of hearts?

Triggers

Now let's see if we can invoke the triggers for rules one and two. Make sure you enable triggers, but keep laws disabled. For rule one, let's place Chet with the three. The trigger for rule one will then enter marks that the two cannot be black, and that the four and five cannot be red. For the second rule, enter a 'X' for Kitty and the diamond, and a 'X' for Kitty and the heart. The trigger for rule 2 will make sure Bart cannot have red cards.

Now that we've had our fun with rules and triggers, let's have the program solve the puzzle. With rules, triggers, and laws all enabled, the program easily finds the solution.

Rule 3

Clue 4 states "The sum of the spade and diamond is higher than the sum of the club and heart.", which is enforced by rule 3. But this rule is not necessary if you asked yourself "Can the diamond be the two?" If the diamond was the two, you could not satisify this clue (think about it). Likewise, the spade could not be the five. If I added a few more facts, I would not need this rule.

I think clue 4 makes this puzzle harder than your typical one-star puzzle.