# Fine Line: UWT Line-Card Puzzle

Teams inspect thirteen illustrated cards and deduce how their line heights connect, arranging all cards in one continuous straight line without rotating or flipping.

**Time:** 15 minutes. 15 minutes total matches the standard problem-solving band from source evidence.
**People:** 4 to 8. Table groups of 4 to 8 participants.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Collaboratively deduce an ordering pattern and assemble a continuous line of thirteen cards.
**Use it when:** Use when a small group needs a cooperative deduction puzzle that emphasizes observation, hypothesis testing, and active communication.
**Skip it when:** Skip when the group wants a non-puzzle discussion or when physical or screen-based visual line matching is inaccessible.

## Materials and tools

- One set of thirteen cut UWT Line Cards per table (or slips with numeric pairs)
- Document camera (for hybrid delivery)
- Scissors and envelope if cutting on site
- Facilitator solution reference

## Before participants arrive

1. Print and cut the 13 UWT Line Cards or numeric slips for each group.
2. Scatter the 13 cards face up in random order across each table, ensuring UP marks point north.

## Say this to open

On your table are thirteen cards marked with line segments. Each card has an indicator marked UP. Keep UP facing the top. Do not rotate or flip the cards. Your goal as a team is to arrange all thirteen cards into a single straight horizontal row so that the line meets at the exact same height across adjacent cards.

## How to run it

### 1. Orient and examine cards (2 minutes)

Read opening script. Instruct groups to inspect their thirteen cards, keeping the UP marker oriented toward the top without rotating or flipping.

### 2. Find links and form chains (6 minutes)

Teams compare card edges, identify matching line heights or numbers, and assemble pairs and small clusters on the table.

### 3. Assemble complete row (4 minutes)

Teams connect their clusters into one single straight horizontal line of thirteen cards. Offer the neutral hint that each interior height links exactly two cards.

### 4. Verify and debrief (3 minutes)

Ask groups to pause and verify their sequence against the endpoints. Facilitate a brief debrief using two of the supplied questions, while verifying their sequence against the facilitator solution key.


## Debrief questions

- What visual or numeric clues helped you realize how the cards link together?
- When someone proposed an ordering rule, how did the group test it before moving all cards?
- What communication patterns helped keep everyone involved while moving pieces?

**Finished output:** A single continuous line of thirteen matched cards laid out horizontally on the table.

## Remote

Load the thirteen card images onto a shared digital board (like Miro or Mural) with rotation locked. Participants take turns dragging cards into a horizontal sequence.

## Hybrid

Place a live document camera over the table. Remote members call out card letters or numbers and guide an in-person partner to position each piece.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants may participate verbally, direct someone else to move cards, or move cards directly.
- Anyone may opt out of moving cards and observe quietly or check matches.

## If the session gets stuck

**Participants rotate or flip cards to force edges to align.**

Remind the group that every card must keep its UP indicator facing top at all times.

**One person handles all cards while others watch passively.**

Suggest dividing the scattered cards so each participant holds two or three and calls out edge heights.


## Terms used here

- Straight-line match: A continuous single row where the right edge of each card matches the left edge of the next card.

## Participant material: UWT Line Cards Cutout Sheet

Print and cut the 13 rectangular cards. Keep UP at the top of each card; do not rotate or flip them. Cards are solved purely by visual line-height matching at adjacent edges.
![Thirteen original line-matching cutout cards](https://unitedwetransform.com/assets/exercise-materials/uwt-line-cards-3c14fd749897.svg)
Caption: Thirteen original UWT line-matching cutout cards with directional markers and letters A through M on the bottom.

## Participant material: UWT Numeric Matching Slips

Alternative numeric slip set (each slip has a Left/Right value; keep Left on the left and Right on the right):
Card A: 0 / 9
Card B: 13 / 2
Card C: 3 / 12
Card D: 11 / 4
Card E: 10 / 5
Card F: 8 / 6
Card G: 2 / 10
Card H: 9 / 1
Card I: 5 / 8
Card J: 7 / 3
Card K: 4 / 13
Card L: 12 / 0
Card M: 1 / 11

Challenge: Chain all 13 slips in a straight line so that adjacent numbers match (Left of next matches Right of previous). Note: These numeric values represent the relative line heights on visual cards A through M.

## Participant material: Facilitator Solution Key

FACILITATOR ONLY - DO NOT DISTRIBUTE TO PARTICIPANTS.

Correct 13-card sequence from left to right:
J -> C -> L -> A -> H -> M -> D -> K -> B -> G -> E -> I -> F

Edge verification (visual line heights and numeric values match):
J (7/3) connects to C (3/12)
C (3/12) connects to L (12/0)
L (12/0) connects to A (0/9)
A (0/9) connects to H (9/1)
H (9/1) connects to M (1/11)
M (1/11) connects to D (11/4)
D (11/4) connects to K (4/13)
K (4/13) connects to B (13/2)
B (13/2) connects to G (2/10)
G (2/10) connects to E (10/5)
E (10/5) connects to I (5/8)
I (5/8) connects to F (8/6)
End heights: left open end is 7; right open end is 6.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Playmeo activity library, where it is attributed to Mark Collard. The original puzzle cards and solution in this run sheet were created by United We Transform.

Retained the mechanic of arranging 13 scattered cards into one continuous straight row. Instead of requiring the proprietary Fine Line Cards deck, this version provides an original UWT cutout sheet with edge-height alignments, plus an alternate numeric pair option. The solution is fully specified for the facilitator.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/fun-team-building-puzzles/fine-line-cards/)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/fun-team-building-puzzles/fine-line-cards)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/visual-puzzle-activity-for-team-problem-solving-fine-line-cards/