MALP Specialists Training Manual

Solving MALPs

Now that you can move the arrow piece and other pieces, what do you do with these newfound skills? Now is when you start thinking about solving MALPs.

When you work on solving MALPs, you want to start with the edges farthest from the arrow piece. (When the arrow piece is in the middle of the MALP, it's a special case, but I'll get to that later, in the section called 'Where to Start.')

On this MALP, the arrow piece is in the bottom right corner, so you could start with either the top row or the far left column. I would start with the top row, which should be, from left to right, pieces 1, 2, 3, and 4. When you're first learning to do MALPs, you should concentrate more on getting the pieces to where they need to go than on how many moves you use to get them there, so that's what I'll do in my example. I'll save how to do the MALPs in fewer moves for later, in the section called 'Using Fewer Moves.' Now that I've decided what row or column I would start with, I would still be left with the choice of which end of the row I would start with. Because piece 4 is closer to its spot than piece 1, I would start on the right side, with piece 4. While I put piece 4 in, I would ignore where the other pieces are and just concentrate on getting piece 4 where it needs to be. (If I were just learning how to do MALPs, as well as if I was teaching someone in person how to do MALPs.)

6 9 14 11
12 10 3 A
13 15 4 7
5 1 2 8

First you would click piece 3.

6 9 14 11
12 10 A 3
13 15 4 7
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 4.

6 9 14 11
12 10 4 3
13 15 A 7
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 7.

6 9 14 11
12 10 4 3
13 15 7 A
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 3.

6 9 14 11
12 10 4 A
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 4.

6 9 14 11
12 10 A 4
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 14. Then you would just need to move piece 11 out of the way.

6 9 A 11
12 10 14 4
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 11.

6 9 11 A
12 10 14 4
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 4 to put it where it goes.

6 9 11 4
12 10 14 A
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

From now until when you finish the MALP, you shouldn't need to move it.

Next you would put piece 3 in, without paying attention to where any of the other pieces are, except for piece 4, which you wouldn't want to move.

6 9 11 4
12 10 14 A
13 15 7 3
5 1 2 8

First you would click piece 3.

6 9 11 4
12 10 14 3
13 15 7 A
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 7.

6 9 11 4
12 10 14 3
13 15 A 7
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 14.

6 9 11 4
12 10 A 3
13 15 14 7
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 3.

6 9 11 4
12 10 3 A
13 15 14 7
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 7.

6 9 11 4
12 10 3 7
13 15 14 A
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 14.

6 9 11 4
12 10 3 7
13 15 A 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 15.

6 9 11 4
12 10 3 7
13 A 15 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 10.

6 9 11 4
12 A 3 7
13 10 15 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 9.

6 A 11 4
12 9 3 7
13 10 15 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 11.

6 11 A 4
12 9 3 7
13 10 15 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 3.

6 11 3 4
12 9 A 7
13 10 15 14
5 1 2 8

Just like that.

The last two pieces of any row or column have to be done differently than the rest of the row or column. Here's why. If you were to move piece 1 to where it goes and then try to move piece 2 into its spot, you would need to put piece 2 where piece 9 is, but then the piece between piece 1 and piece 3 would prevent you from putting piece 2 in. So instead you put piece 1 where piece 2 goes and use it like a place holder, like this:

6 11 3 4
12 9 A 7
13 10 15 14
5 1 2 8

First you would click piece 15.

6 11 3 4
12 9 15 7
13 10 A 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 10.

6 11 3 4
12 9 15 7
13 A 10 14
5 1 2 8

Then you would click piece 1.

6 11 3 4
12 9 15 7
13 1 10 14
5 A 2 8

Then you would click piece 2.

6 11 3 4
12 9 15 7
13 1 10 14
5 2 A 8

Then you would click piece 10.

6 11 3 4
12 9 15 7
13 1 A 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 15.

6 11 3 4
12 9 A 7
13 1 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 9.

6 11 3 4
12 A 9 7
13 1 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 1.

6 11 3 4
12 1 9 7
13 A 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 13. (Rememeber, you wouldn't want to move piece 3, which is why you wouldn't want to move the arrow piece around the other side of piece 1.)

6 11 3 4
12 1 9 7
A 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 12.

6 11 3 4
A 1 9 7
12 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 6.

A 11 3 4
6 1 9 7
12 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 11.

11 A 3 4
6 1 9 7
12 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 1 to put it where you want it.

11 1 3 4
6 A 9 7
12 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

Just like that.

Next you would put piece 2 where you would put it if you were putting it in like pieces 3 and 4, where the arrow piece is now, without moving piece 1, piece 3 or piece 4.

11 1 3 4
6 A 9 7
12 13 15 14
5 2 10 8

First you would click piece 13.

11 1 3 4
6 13 9 7
12 A 15 14
5 2 10 8

Then you would click piece 2.

11 1 3 4
6 13 9 7
12 2 15 14
5 A 10 8

Then you would click piece 10.

11 1 3 4
6 13 9 7
12 2 15 14
5 10 A 8

Then you would click piece 15.

11 1 3 4
6 13 9 7
12 2 A 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 9.

11 1 3 4
6 13 A 7
12 2 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 13.

11 1 3 4
6 A 13 7
12 2 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 2.

11 1 3 4
6 2 13 7
12 A 9 14
5 10 15 8

Just like that.

Now you would just need to move piece 1 to its spot and piece 2 into the hole left by piece 1.

11 1 3 4
6 2 13 7
12 A 9 14
5 10 15 8

First you would click piece 12.

11 1 3 4
6 2 13 7
A 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 6.

11 1 3 4
A 2 13 7
6 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 11.

A 1 3 4
11 2 13 7
6 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 1.

1 A 3 4
11 2 13 7
6 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 2.

1 2 3 4
11 A 13 7
6 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

Just like that.

Now that you have a whole row in, you could leave that row alone, and treat the remainder of the MALP like a while new MALP, with 3 rows and 4 columns. Because there are more columns than rows left to be done, you would do a column next, the one farthest from where the arrow piece goes, the far left column, with pieces 5, 9, and 13. I would start with piece 5 since it's already in the correct column.

1 2 3 4
11 A 13 7
6 12 9 14
5 10 15 8

First you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
11 12 13 7
6 A 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
11 12 13 7
A 6 9 14
5 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 5.

1 2 3 4
11 12 13 7
5 6 9 14
A 10 15 8

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
11 12 13 7
5 6 9 14
10 A 15 8

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
11 12 13 7
5 A 9 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
A 11 13 7
5 12 9 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 5.

1 2 3 4
5 11 13 7
A 12 9 14
10 6 15 8

Just like that.

Now you would put piece 13 where piece 9 goes, and then put both pieces in.

1 2 3 4
5 11 13 7
A 12 9 14
10 6 15 8

First you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 11 13 7
12 A 9 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 A 13 7
12 11 9 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 13.

1 2 3 4
5 13 A 7
12 11 9 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 9.

1 2 3 4
5 13 9 7
12 11 A 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 13 9 7
12 A 11 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 13.

1 2 3 4
5 A 9 7
12 13 11 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 9.

1 2 3 4
5 9 A 7
12 13 11 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
12 13 A 14
10 6 15 8

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
12 13 15 14
10 6 A 8

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
12 13 15 14
10 A 6 8

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
12 13 15 14
A 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
A 13 15 14
12 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 13.

1 2 3 4
5 9 11 7
13 A 15 14
12 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 9.

1 2 3 4
5 A 11 7
13 9 15 14
12 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 11 A 7
13 9 15 14
12 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
13 9 A 14
12 10 6 8

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
13 9 6 14
12 10 A 8

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
13 9 6 14
12 A 10 8

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
13 9 6 14
A 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 13.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
A 9 6 14
13 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 9.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
9 A 6 14
13 12 10 8

Just like that.

Now you would be left with a 3 row, 3 column MALP, pieces 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and the arrow piece. This time I'll start with the top row of the remaining pieces, pieces 6, 7 and 8, again because the pieces are the closest to being in place.

1 2 3 4
5 11 15 7
9 A 6 14
13 12 10 8

First you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 A 15 7
9 11 6 14
13 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 15 A 7
9 11 6 14
13 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 11 A 14
13 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 14.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 11 14 A
13 12 10 8

Then you would click piece 8.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 11 14 8
13 12 10 A

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 11 14 8
13 12 A 10

Then you would click piece 14.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 11 A 8
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 15 6 7
9 A 11 8
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 A 6 7
9 15 11 8
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 6.

1 2 3 4
5 6 A 7
9 15 11 8
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 7.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 A
9 15 11 8
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 8.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 15 11 A
13 12 14 10

Just like that.

Now you would be left with a two row, three column MALP. Next you would do the far left column of this section, pieces 10 and 14.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 15 11 A
13 12 14 10

First you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 15 A 11
13 12 14 10

Then you would click piece 14.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 15 14 11
13 12 A 10

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 15 14 11
13 A 12 10

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 A 14 11
13 15 12 10

Then you would click piece 14.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 A 11
13 15 12 10

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 11 A
13 15 12 10

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 11 10
13 15 12 A

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 11 10
13 15 A 12

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 A 10
13 15 11 12

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 10 A
13 15 11 12

Then you would click piece 12.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 10 12
13 15 11 A

Then you would click piece 11.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 10 12
13 15 A 11

Then you would click piece 15.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 14 10 12
13 A 15 11

Then you would click piece 14.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 A 10 12
13 14 15 11

Then you would click piece 10.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 A 12
13 14 15 11

Just like that.

This leaves the last three pieces 15, 12 and 11. If the MALP is solvable, you would be able to move these around without shifting the completed rows or columns to finish the MALP. As you can see, no matter how you move the last three pieces on this on, you would always have at least one piece out of place.

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Last Updated: Sunday, December 26, 1999