If you have ever found yourself squinting at a pub quiz sheet, convinced the answer is right there (somewhere), this one is for you. Today’s challenge is simple on paper: spot the hidden ’00’ in a sea of ’09’ – and do it in under 20 seconds. Easy? That’s what everyone says at the start.
The brain boosting power of puzzles
There is a reason these little riddles keep popping up on our phones between emails and train delays. A good visual puzzle is basically a mini workout for your mind, forcing you to slow down, focus, and think in patterns rather than panic.
I used to keep a puzzle book in my bag for commutes, thinking it was a slightly old fashioned habit, like carrying a newspaper. But it turned out to be oddly useful. Five minutes of brain teasing on a packed carriage did more for my mood than doom scrolling ever did. And that is one of the underrated benefits here: puzzles can be genuinely calming. You step away from whatever is swirling in your head and give your attention to something that is challenging but contained.
Cognitive psychologists often point out that problem solving nudges us into more deliberate thinking. You are not just staring, you are scanning, comparing, checking, correcting. That engages pattern recognition, gives your working memory a nudge, and rewards you for sticking with it rather than giving up at the first wobble.
These tests also encourage creative thinking. When a quick glance does not work, you start inventing strategies: track each row, cover part of the screen with your hand, count shapes rather than numbers. That habit of trying a new approach is surprisingly transferable. Whether you are tackling a tricky revision topic or trying to organise a chaotic week, practising flexible thinking helps.
And then there is the emotional payoff. Finishing a puzzle brings that small, satisfying click of victory – a neat little boost to confidence. Even a short break to solve something can refresh your attention and lift your focus boost for the task you return to afterwards.
The 20 second challenge: Find the ’00’ among the ’09’
Right, onto the main event.
Picture a grid filled with ’09’ repeated again and again. Somewhere in that busy crowd is one sneaky ’00’, hiding in plain sight. Your job is to find it in under 20 seconds.
A quick tip before you start: do not try to stare harder. That tends to make everything blur, and suddenly you are questioning whether numbers have always looked like that. Instead, give yourself a method. Scan column by column, or row by row, and keep your eyes moving with purpose. If you are anything like me, you will feel the clock in your head getting louder by the second – but a little pressure is part of the fun.
If you did not spot it in time, you are in good company. These visual tests are designed to trick the brain into seeing what it expects to see. When ’09’ is everywhere, your mind starts auto filling the pattern, which is exactly why the odd one out can slip past.
Here is the answer, revealed plainly: the ’00’ sits on the second to last row and the second column from the left.
Once you know, it feels obvious. That is also the point. The real skill is not genius eyesight, but careful attention. And like any skill, it improves with practice.
If you want to level up, try setting yourself small daily challenges: one puzzle with your morning tea, a quick observation game before homework, or a five minute riddle break between tasks. Think of it as mental agility training, minus the sweaty gym kit.
Because whether you found the ’00’ in a flash or needed the reveal, the win is the same: you made your brain do something active today. And honestly, that already puts you ahead of the scroll.
