At first glance, it looks like a simple puzzle. Just count the squares—easy, right? But hold on. This isn’t your average brain teaser. It’s a visual trap that plays games with your perception, hiding layers of complexity under clean lines and basic shapes.

If you’ve ever looked at an image and thought, “I’ve got this,” only to later realize you missed something obvious, this one’s for you. So sharpen your eyes, take a deep breath, and get ready to dive into a deceptively simple challenge.

The Puzzle That Has Everyone Second-Guessing

You’ve probably seen this type of puzzle floating around social media or in brain-training books. The concept is straightforward: count all the squares you see in a graphic. Some are big. Some are small. Some only appear when you look closely at overlapping lines.

Most people count quickly, feel confident, and then get completely blindsided when they realize their total is way off. That’s the magic of this puzzle—it reveals just how much your brain takes shortcuts.

Video: How Many Squares – Whatsapp Puzzle with Best Answer | How many squares are there in this picture ?

Common Mistakes People Make

Let’s talk about what usually goes wrong.

• Only counting the largest squares: It’s easy to spot the big, bold squares. But what about the ones hiding inside them?
• Missing overlaps: This puzzle thrives on intersections and shared lines. If you’re not analyzing those carefully, you’re skipping crucial pieces.
• Forgetting to look at different scales: Small squares within medium squares within larger ones… it’s a nesting doll of geometry. And the deeper you look, the more you’ll find.

In short, it’s not just a visual test—it’s a mental workout.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Solution

Okay, let’s dissect the puzzle one layer at a time. Here’s how the correct total of 9 squares is reached:

Step 1: The Obvious Three

Start with the basics. You’ll likely spot three individual squares right away—these are the colored ones: Red, Green, and Yellow. So we begin with 3 squares.

Step 2: The Overlap Begins

Here’s where things start to get interesting. The Green square overlaps with the Red square, and together, they create a new square right at the point where their corners meet. That gives us +1 square.

Step 3: Yellow Meets Green

Now take a closer look at the Yellow and Green overlap. This intersection forms not just one but four smaller squares nested within the overlapping section. These are the ones most people miss unless they’re really focusing.

Add those, and we’re now at +4 squares.

Step 4: The Hidden Surprise

And finally, there’s the sneaky one under the question mark. It’s easy to overlook—maybe it’s subtle in color or barely separated from the others. But it’s there. And it completes the set with +1 more square.

Final Total: 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 9 Squares

If you reached 9 on your own—congrats. You’ve got some serious pattern recognition skills. If not, don’t worry—you’re in good company.

Why This Puzzle Is So Effective

What makes this puzzle such a great brain teaser is how it forces you to slow down. In a world that’s constantly rushing, this type of problem teaches focus, patience, and visual awareness.

Think of it like mindfulness with a geometric twist. You can’t just glance and guess—you have to pause, analyze, and challenge your assumptions.

It also builds logic and spatial intelligence. You’re identifying patterns, making predictions, and verifying those against what you see. That’s the same mental muscle you use in everything from coding and design to solving real-world problems.

Tips for Mastering Visual Puzzles Like This One

Want to get better at solving these kinds of challenges? Here are a few tricks:

• Zoom in and isolate sections: Break the image into quadrants or zones and count each carefully.
• Use your finger or cursor to trace lines: This helps you avoid missing hidden overlaps.
• Step away, then return: Giving your eyes a short break often helps you see what you missed the first time.
• Challenge a friend: Friendly competition sharpens focus—and makes it more fun.

These small strategies go a long way in boosting your performance—not just on puzzles, but in day-to-day problem solving too.

How You Answer Reflects Your Brain’s Strengths

Video: 13 Riddles that will test your mental skills | Detective Mehul riddles | Riddles with Answers

Interestingly, how you approach this puzzle can reflect your cognitive style. Some people go straight for the big picture; others zoom in on details. There’s no “right” method—just different mental gears spinning toward the same goal.

The real win isn’t just getting the answer. It’s understanding how you got there—and how you can improve next time.

Conclusion: 9 Squares, One Big Lesson in Focus

So, did you find all nine? Whether you nailed it or stumbled, the takeaway is the same: details matter. What looks simple on the surface often hides layers of complexity. And sometimes, you need to look again—because the answer was right there all along.

Puzzles like this aren’t just games—they’re mirrors showing how your brain processes the world. So next time you’re scrolling and see a “count the squares” challenge, don’t scroll past. Stop. Observe. Think. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll see more than you did before.