Here is a puzzle I’ve been attempting to unravel for per week, however I’ve not made any actual progress. Some of the issues I’ve tried I’ll embody as spoilers.

The puzzle is from a contest which has simply ended, however it is going to be a number of months till options are launched and I assumed possibly the group right here might assist put my thoughts at relaxation by explaining the puzzle to me!

Best thought I’ve had

I needed to attempt to draw a path within the grid which spelt a phrase. I hoped to discover a path which coated the entire grid, however I could not discover something logical. The finest I might do was to spell the phrase FRIEND by strolling alongside the next path after which utilizing the Polybius sq. to decode the message.

The path right here offers the numbers 21 . 42 . 24 . 15 . 33 . 14 . which decodes to FR(I/J)END. I like this resolution as the trail appears pretty logical and begins from the pink two, however I’m not satisfied that is the reply.

Context for the puzzle

Last week, there was a cryptography olympiad NSU Crypto. There are two rounds, one which is for people and lasts at some point, after which a second spherical which lasts per week and will be performed in groups.

This downside was downside one part A for the person spherical, after which used once more for the second spherical for the groups competitors. You can obtain the unique PDF of the problem from the next hyperlink.

Similar questions

Seems like this puzzle has appeared as soon as earlier than, however was appropriately locked, because it was posted throughout the competitors… Similar query