Puzzles of logic are designed to test and sharpen your powers of reasoning. Reason is as old as the hills, but perhaps that’s why these puzzles never get old. They are timeless! When you solve a problem, you always feel like you’ve learned something new even if you were unable to find the solution.

Matchstick puzzles in particular look simple enough, but looks can be deceiving. Although some may seem easy, there are often hidden difficulties that force you to look high and low for an answer. So, try this one on for size—it seems simple enough.

Below is an illustration of 4 matchsticks arranged in the shape of a cross:

Your task is to move 1 matchstick, and not more than 1, in order to create a square shape. You may move it anywhere you like. The simplest problems are sometimes the hardest. This problem may seem impossible, but in fact, it is not.

Do not scroll down right away. Take a few moments to think it over. When you think you have the right answer (or if you’re completely stumped) scroll down below to see the solution.

Psych!

You have to think small and think outside the box in order to solve this one. Shift the upper matchstick upward the same distance as the width of 1 matchstick and you will have created a square shape in the center of the cross, formed by the bottom widths of each matchstick.