Strategy5 min readJune 15, 2026
Target tips: getting closer, faster
Numbers puzzles reward a few small tactics. Here are the ones that pay off almost every time.
Target is a numbers game with a beautiful minimum: six numbers, one target, four operations. Every board has a solution, and most have several.
Anchor with multiplication
Look at your large numbers first. If your target is near a multiple of one of them, you probably want to build around that. 100 × 7 gives you 700; you just need to nudge from there.
Cheap adjustments
Small differences are what your small numbers are for. Save 1s and 2s for the last step, when you need to hit the target exactly.
Don't be afraid of division
Division is often the missing move. If you're 20 over, try dividing an earlier subtotal — you can often reach the target with fewer steps.