Approval Chain: A Free Daily Logic Puzzle with Signatures

Approval Chain is a free daily logic puzzle. A request is waiting for signatures, and the approval policy is a chain of rules: Ana and Ben both sign, either Carla or Dan but not both, if Eva signs then Finn signs too. Decide who signs. The request is approved when every rule is green, and only one set of signatures does it. Monday is 4 people and 3 rules. Friday is 8 people and 7 or 8 rules.

No sign-up and nothing to install. It runs in your browser on a computer or a phone, and your progress is saved on your device.

  • Tap to sign. Tap a person to add a signature. Tap again to take it back.
  • Rules turn green. Each rule shows a green tick when it is kept and a red cross when it is broken.
  • One answer. Exactly one set of signatures keeps every rule, and every rule is needed to find it.
  • Stuck? The lightbulb sets one person right. Hints and undo are free.

ADVERTISEMENT

How to play Approval Chain

  1. Read the chain of rules from top to bottom.
  2. Tap the people who should sign. A filled badge means the person signs.
  3. Watch the rules. A change can turn one rule green and another one red.
  4. Go on until every rule is green. Then the request is approved.

The rules you will meet

RuleWhat it meansFirst appears
A and B both signBoth signatures are needed.Monday
A or B signs, or bothAt least one of the two.Monday
Either A or B signs, not bothExactly one of the two.Monday
A and B do not both signOne of them may sign, or neither.Monday
If A signs, B signs tooSays nothing when A does not sign.Wednesday
Exactly N people signCounts all signatures on the request.Wednesday
At least two of A, B and C signTwo of the three, or all three.Thursday

ADVERTISEMENT

Tips for reading the chain

  • Start with what is certain. A rule like “Ana and Ben both sign” gives you two signatures at once.
  • Follow the pairs. With “either Carla or Dan, not both”, deciding one of them decides the other.
  • Read “if” rules backwards. “If Eva signs, Finn signs too” also means: if Finn does not sign, Eva cannot sign.
  • Keep the count for the end. “Exactly 3 people sign” tells you what to do with the people who are still free.
  • Try one person and follow the chain. Let someone sign and see what the other rules then force. If a rule cannot turn green any more, that person does not sign.

How the week gets harder

DayPeopleRulesWhat is new
Monday43Both, or, either-or, not both. One rule always says that two people both sign.
Tuesday54One more person and one more rule.
Wednesday65“If … then” rules and “exactly N people sign”. No rule gives two signatures away.
Thursday76“At least two of three.”
Friday87 or 8Eight people and the longest chain.

Saturday plays like a Wednesday and Sunday like a Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Frequently asked questions

Is Approval Chain free?

Yes. There is no account, no download and no paywall.

Is there more than one answer?

No. Every puzzle has exactly one set of signatures that keeps all rules, and no rule can be left out.

Does “or” include both?

Yes. “Ana or Ben signs” is kept when one of them signs and also when both sign. “Either … or” means exactly one.

What does an “if” rule do when the first person does not sign?

Nothing. “If Ana signs, Ben signs too” is kept whenever Ana does not sign.

When does the new puzzle appear?

At midnight in your local time.

Can I play earlier puzzles?

Yes. Open the calendar button at the top of the game and pick any day from the past eight weeks.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. On a phone the people are shown above the chain.

More to play on WiseChecker

ADVERTISEMENT