LG Game 3 Setup, by LSATHacks
Game Setup
Time on second attempt: 9:15
See “repeating games” at bottom of section. Note that I made an error on question 17 which slowed me down. I got it right, but it took time to spot the error. Errors happen in LG, which is why a buffer of extra time is a good goal to aim for, even once you reach the point of getting most questions right.
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This is a fairly simple game, but nonetheless difficult. The rules are easy to understand yet somehow a bit difficult to apply.
Here are the basic rules. The first diagram is just the main board, with rule 2 underneath – S can’t be 2nd or 4th:
I didn’t draw them for U and R, but note that if you have any difficulty visualizing contrapositives, you should also draw the contrapositives for the final rule. If you ever hesitate about them, then this is essential to prevent mistakes. But, at an advanced level this isn’t necessary.
About the only thing you should do in advance is think about who is easy to place, and who is hard:
- S is hard: it can only go first or third.
- R and U are hard: they both can have big effects
- Q is hard: When placed, it forms a block with T as QT
- T is easy. Placing T alone doesn’t make anything else happen, and T can be placed anywhere.
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Repeating Games
I’ve written elsewhere about the benefits of repeating games, to solidify your intuition for deductions. Note that the purpose of repeating games is to prove the answers right, so it doesn’t matter if you remember the right answer.
I repeated this game about three days after I first saw it, by which time I had forgotten the answers. I’ve written how long it took me on the second attempt. That time, or a couple minutes above it, is roughly the standard you should be aspiring to – a lot of people take 8-9 minutes on a repeat attempt, get everything right, and pat themselves on the back. But that’s too slow. The faster you go when repeating, the faster you’ll learn to go the first time you see a game.
(I say “a couple minutes above” my time because, after years of teaching the LSAT, I’m really, really fast. You should be almost as fast as me, but you don’t exactly need to match my pace to score -0.)
Time on second attempt:
I understand the relationship between R2 and U not being in. However, I don’t understand how that relates to U requiring to be in if R is at 1,3, or 4. For instance, why doesn’t answer choice E work on question 12?
It’s the contrapositive of rule 3. If U is not in, then R is second. Contrapositive: If R is not second, then U is in. You reverse and negate the terms.
(If R is in 1, 3 or 4, they are not 2nd)
Hi! A reminder of a slip of the pen: “S is hard: it can only go third or fourth” . Should it be S can only go first or third?
Yes, thanks for catching this! The page has been updated.