Create Your Own Alphametic Puzzle in 10 Steps
Alphametic puzzles (also called cryptograms or cryptarithmetics) are fascinating number puzzles
where letters stand for digits. The same letters always represent the same digits – and the resulting equation must
be mathematically correct. The most famous example: SEND + MORE = MONEY.
In this tutorial we show you step by step how to create your own alphametic puzzle with the Puzzle-Generator – from choosing words, through automatic solution finding, to the finished export as PDF or image.
What is an Alphametic Puzzle?
In an alphametic puzzle, each letter represents exactly one digit from 0 to 9. The same letters always stand for the same digit; different letters stand for different digits. The goal is to find the correct assignment so that the arithmetic equation is correct.
The most famous example comes from Henry Dudeney in 1924:
SEND + MORE ------ MONEY
The solution: S=9, E=5, N=6, D=7, M=1, O=0, R=8, Y=2 – i.e. 9567 + 1085 = 10652. With Puzzle-Generator you can create such puzzles with your own words and automatically search for valid solutions.
Start the program and create a new alphametic project
Open Puzzle-Generator or click File → New in the menu. In the dialog that appears, select the puzzle type Alphametic Puzzle (Cryptogram).
- Select a template, e.g. the Standard Template.
- A new project workspace specifically for alphametic puzzles opens.
- In the top bar you will find three central areas: 1. Words, 2. Generate and 3. Export. They guide you step by step through the entire process – from word selection to the finished puzzle.
Enter words – the basis of your puzzle
Enter your desired words in the central area – for example SEND,
MORE and MONEY. These words form the basis for the equation
that the algorithm will calculate later.
- Click the green circled plus symbol in the top toolbar. In the popup window that appears, enter your new word and confirm with Enter – it is automatically added to the word list. You can then enter further words directly.
- A maximum of 10 different letters may appear in total (for digits 0–9).
Choose an arithmetic operation
Go to the next area 2. Generate and then via the small icon to the Options. Choose the mathematical operation your puzzle should use. Puzzle-Generator supports three variants:
- Addition (+) – the classic form, ideal for beginners.
- Subtraction (−) – an interesting alternative with a different difficulty level.
- Multiplication (×) – creates particularly tricky puzzles.
The program shows you which operations are possible with your entered words and whether valid solutions exist.
Generate puzzle – find solutions automatically
Click “Generate New Puzzle” to start the algorithm. The Puzzle-Generator systematically checks all possible digit combinations and finds valid assignments for your words.
- The result shows the complete equation with digit values.
- You can see the solutions and found assignments.
- Multiple solutions can be generated and compared.
- If no solution exists, you can add more words and try again.
Check the solution and choose a variant
In the list you can select an equation. In the preview area below you see the selected equation in full size. On the left are the words of the equation, and on the right the assigned digits.
- Check the equation visually – do the numbers add up?
- With multiple variants you can browse through the solutions.
- Choose the variant that appeals to you most or best suits your purpose.
Create uniqueness and set puzzle hints
Below the table you will find information about the solvability of the selected alphametic equation. It shows whether the puzzle has a unique solution – i.e. exactly one valid digit-to-letter assignment – or how many different solutions are possible.
- If multiple solutions exist, you can make the puzzle uniquely solvable by defining one or more letter-digit assignments as given values.
- This is possible either manually in the left panel under Puzzle Hints (Number Hints), or automatically via the Create Uniqueness button, which generates a unique solution with as few hints as possible.
- All set hints are immediately applied and update the solution display in real time, so you can always track the effect of your adjustments.
Customize layout and design
Open the dropdown menus on the left side of the program window to customize the appearance of your puzzle individually. Here you control all design details and tailor the look exactly to your requirements:
- Background and border: Choose background color, border color, thickness and rounding, as well as line style and spacing.
- Layout customization: Define the symbols for the arithmetic operators (+ / − / ×) and set the spacing between elements.
- Text and lines: Set the font, size and color for letters and digits, and customize line spacing, thickness and color individually.
Customize background and page elements
Switch to the 3. Export area to configure the presentation of your page. Here you decide whether to work with an automatic or manual layout.
- Layout mode: In manual layout, you freely position all elements on the page. In automatic layout, content is arranged optimally and automatically.
- Page setup: Set page margins and basic page settings.
- Display & layout: Define spacing as well as background color, pattern or a background image.
- Title and description: Add a headline text and a short instruction.
- Assignment table: Show or hide the blank solution table and customize line style, color, thickness and pattern as you wish.
Save and load the project
Save your puzzle project so you can continue working on it at any time or reopen it later. This preserves all settings, layout adjustments and content completely.
- File → Save: Saves the project as a .puz file for later editing. This file contains all words, layout settings, design options and export configurations.
- File → Load: Opens a previously saved .puz file, so you can continue working on your puzzle exactly where you left off.
Export – PDF, images or Web App
In the final step, export your finished puzzle in the desired format. Puzzle-Generator offers you a wide range of options:
- PDF: Print-ready document in high quality – ideal for worksheets and puzzle books.
- Image (PNG, JPG, SVG): For websites, social media or presentations.
- Interactive Web App: A playable puzzle in the browser – perfect for your website or for sharing.
- DOCX: For further editing in Microsoft Word or LibreOffice.
Tips & Tricks
Practical advice that helps you create better puzzles.
Words with many shared letters
The more letters the words share, the higher the chance of a unique solution. Try words from the same subject area.
Try multiple variants
Generate multiple solutions and compare them. Sometimes surprisingly elegant equations emerge that make your puzzle particularly appealing.
Control difficulty level
Shorter words with fewer different letters are easier to solve. For advanced users, use longer words and multiplication.
Use and adapt templates
Start with an included template and customize it to your wishes. This saves time and gives you a professional result immediately.
Ideas & Occasions for Alphametic Puzzles
Get inspired – alphametic puzzles suit many occasions.
School & Education
Create alphametic puzzles with subject-specific terms for math, language arts or general knowledge lessons. Ideal as an extra task, substitute lesson or competition.
Birthdays & Celebrations
Surprise the birthday boy or girl with a personalized puzzle! Use names, ages and congratulations as words for the equation.
Magazines & Publications
Professional puzzles for print media: export as print-ready PDF or high-resolution image – perfectly sized for your layout.
Brain Training & Competition
Train logical thinking and mental arithmetic. Alphametic puzzles are perfect as brain exercises – solo or as a group competition.
Ready for your first alphametic puzzle?
Download Puzzle-Generator for free now and create your first professional alphametic puzzle in just a few minutes.