Hard Riddles

Here are some hard riddles, and some not-so-hard riddles. The answers for almost all of them are at the bottom of the page. Almost, I say, because I am engaging in a bit of riddle-cruelty, and leaving you one to ponder without an answer. Enjoy!

The Harder Riddles

1. What row of numbers comes next in this series?

2. A man was to be sentenced, and the judge told him, "You may make a statement. If it is true, I'll sentence you to four years in prison. If it is false, I'll sentence you to six years in prison." After the man made his statement, the judge decided to let him go free. What did the man say?

3. You have a barrel of oil, and you need to measure out just one gallon. How do you do this if you only have a three-gallon container and a five-gallon container?

4. If your sock drawer has 6 black socks, 4 brown socks, 8 white socks, and 2 tan socks, how many socks would you have to pull out in the dark to be sure you had a matching pair?

5. What is broken every time it's spoken?

6. How did Mark legally marry three women in Michigan, without divorcing any of them, becoming legally separated, or any of them dying?

7. Mom and Dad have four daughters, and each daughter has one brother. How many people are in the family?

Short Hard Riddles

8. What English word retains the same pronunciation, even after you take away four of its five letters?

9. If I say "Everything I tell you is a lie," am I telling you the truth or a lie?

10. What work can a painter never quite finish?

11. Why wasn't Bertha put in jail after killing dozens of people?

12. Why wasn't John able to take a photo of his mother with curlers?

13. If there are three cups of sugar and you take one away, how many do you have?

14. What has a mouth but can't chew?

15. How many letters are in the alphabet?

16. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?

17. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?

18. Food can help me survive, but water will kill me. What am I?

19. Take away the whole and some still remains. What is it?

20. What stinks when living and smells good when dead?

21. When is it bad luck to meet a white cat?

22. If it has a quart capacity, how many pennies can you put into a empty piggy bank?

And One More Hard Riddle

23. Which of the following statements are true?

1. At least one of these ten statements is false.
2. At least two of these ten statements are false.
3. At least three of these ten statements are false.
4. At least four of these ten statements are false.
5. At least five of these ten statements are false.
6. At least six of these ten statements are false.
7. At least seven of these ten statements are false.
8. At least eight of these ten statements are false.
9. At least nine of these ten statements are false.
10. At least ten of these ten statements are false.

Hard Riddles - The Answers

1. 1113213211 After the first line, each line describes the previous line:

2. He said, "You'll sentence me to six years in prison." If it was true, then the judge would have to make it false by sentencing him to four years. If it was false, then he would have to give him six years, which would make it true. Rather than contradict his own word, the judge set the man free.

3. Fill the 3-gallon container with oil and pour it into the 5-gallon container. Then fill the 3-gallon container again and use it to fill the 5-gallon container the rest of the way. One gallon will be left in the 3-gallon container.

4. Five. There are only four colors, so five socks guarantee that two will be the same color.

5. Silence.

6. It's part of his job - he's a justice of the peace.

7. Seven. The four daughters have only one brother, making five children, plus mom and dad.

8. Queue.

9. A lie. It can't be the truth without contradicting itself (and therefore being a lie), but some of my statements can be lies, and this is one of those statements.

10. Her autobiography.

11. She was a hurricane.

12. You can't use curlers to take photos! You need a camera.

13. You have just one - the one you took away.

14. A river.

15. There are eleven letters in "the alphabet."

16. A towel.

17. A stamp.

18. Fire.

19. The word "wholesome."

20. Bacon.

21. When you're a mouse.

22. Just one - after that it won't be empty.

23. You're on you're own on this one, but don't worry. It isn't one of the hardest of the hard riddles.

Problem Solving Power - Two dozen effective and fun techniques for solving problems and generating ideas. 32 information-packed chapters that will change your thinking.

How To Have Good Luck - You know that some people have more good things happen to them than others, right? This report shows you how to be one of those people.

How To Be Funny - People love those who make them laugh, and I have written about "humor algorithms" and the brain exercise of inventing jokes before. I'm glad to see that there is a good book on the topic now.

Related Pages:

Einstein's Riddle : The famous Einstein's riddle. Are you among the 2% that can solve it?

Math Riddles : Six math riddles to exercise your logical brain.

Difficult Riddles

Funny Riddles

Brain Teasers Riddles

Free Brain Teasers

Lateral Thinking Puzzles

Really Funny Jokes

Twisted Humor

Brain Exercises

Mind Puzzles

How would it feel to be the smartest person you know? The weekly Brainpower Newsletter can help, and all it takes is your email address and name.

Have a dozen new ideas today! Invent things, write new stories, think new thoughts, and be the life of the conversation - just use the powerful techniques in this report. Get your free copy of this e-report when you sign up for the Brainpower Newsletter (also free). Why not subscribe now?