we can essentially write the "completed solution" like this: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |0 _ 1|2 _ 3|4 _ 5|6 _ 7| |8 9|10 11|12 13|14 15| ------------------------- the a,b,c,d are merely for labelling purposes... now.. the top and bottom rows can be shunted left and right as displayed below... shifting top right once gives: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |6 _ 7|0 _ 1|2 _ 3|4 _ 5| |8 9|10 11|12 13|14 15| ------------------------- shifting the top row left gives us the original position again: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |0 _ 1|2 _ 3|4 _ 5|6 _ 7| |8 9|10 11|12 13|14 15| ------------------------- then shifting the bottom row left gives: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |0 _ 1|2 _ 3|4 _ 5|6 _ 7| |10 11|12 13|14 15|8 9| ------------------------- ........ also we can rotate the individual squares. so say, rotating the "c" square clockwise, gives: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |0 _ 1|2 _ 3|14_ 4|6 _ 7| |10 11|12 13|15 5|8 9| ------------------------- then rotating the "b" square counter-clockwise gives: ___a_____b_____c_____d___ |0 _ 1|3 _13|14_ 4|6 _ 7| |10 11|2 12|15 5|8 9| ------------------------- ---------------------- that should give you an idea of valid moves.. in the real life version, it is in a circle, and the "a" side connects to the "d" side.