Magic Block

puzzle

About This Game

A 3x3 maths grid: place 1-9 so every row and column hits its total.

Fit the digits 1 to 9 into a three by three grid so that every row and every column comes out at the number printed beside it. Each digit is used exactly once, so every square you commit to takes a digit away from somewhere else - that is the whole puzzle.

Lines are read straight through, left to right and top to bottom, with no operator precedence: 2 + 3 x 4 is twenty here, not fourteen, and the tutorial leads with that rather than leaving you to find out. A total turns green the moment its line is right, so you are never guessing whether you are close.

Twenty-four boards that open up as they go: plus and minus to begin with, then multiplication, then fewer and fewer squares filled in for you until the last four hand you nothing at all. Every board is checked by solver before it ships and has exactly one answer, so there is no second solution to find and be told is wrong.

Tap a number then tap a square, or use the number keys.

How to Play Magic Block

Tap a number, then a square: Place it. Number keys 1 to 9 pick a digit too.
Tap a placed digit: Lift it off to place again.
Clear: Remove all your digits, keeping the clues.
Esc or Backspace: Drop the digit you are holding.

Rules

Place the digits 1 to 9 in a 3×3 grid, each exactly once, so that every row and column equals the total beside it.
Each line is worked out left to right or top to bottom, ignoring the usual order of operations: 2 + 3 × 4 is 20 here.
A total turns green as soon as its line is correct.
Clue squares are fixed. Placing a digit that is already on the board moves it rather than duplicating it.
Twenty-four boards. Levels 1 to 4 start with four squares filled; that drops to three, two, one and none by levels 21 to 24. Multiplication joins addition and subtraction from level 9.
Every board has exactly one solution. Your best time for each is kept on this device.

Tips for Magic Block

Start with the line that has the fewest possible digit combinations, usually the one with the largest or smallest total.
In a line of only additions, the three digits simply add up to the total. If every row is additions, the three row totals must add up to 45.
A multiplication line has few combinations. Work out which digit pairs can produce its total before placing anything.
Remember the left-to-right rule on mixed lines: work out the first two digits, then apply the second operator to that result.

puzzle

Rules

Place the digits 1 to 9 in a 3×3 grid, each exactly once, so that every row and column equals the total beside it.

Each line is worked out left to right or top to bottom, ignoring the usual order of operations: 2 + 3 × 4 is 20 here.

A total turns green as soon as its line is correct.

Clue squares are fixed. Placing a digit that is already on the board moves it rather than duplicating it.

Twenty-four boards. Levels 1 to 4 start with four squares filled; that drops to three, two, one and none by levels 21 to 24. Multiplication joins addition and subtraction from level 9.

Every board has exactly one solution. Your best time for each is kept on this device.

Tips for Magic Block

Start with the line that has the fewest possible digit combinations, usually the one with the largest or smallest total.

In a line of only additions, the three digits simply add up to the total. If every row is additions, the three row totals must add up to 45.

A multiplication line has few combinations. Work out which digit pairs can produce its total before placing anything.

Remember the left-to-right rule on mixed lines: work out the first two digits, then apply the second operator to that result.