Let the explanation stay hidden
A traditional host knows the answer and responds to questions. Reading the answer yourself first removes much of the investigation. With an AI host, begin with just the opening situation.
Start with a small example
Original teaching example: Lin reaches the door, then immediately returns to the table. Ask “Did Lin forget something?” If the answer is Yes, follow with “Was it a key?” This is a teaching example, not a puzzle from the game.
Use the previous answer
Suppose the example’s explanation is that Lin left a key on the table. The first question establishes a forgotten item; the second identifies it. A rejected theory should not remain part of your assumed facts.
Keep three mental lists
Distinguish what the opening states, what the host has confirmed and what you are still guessing. Checking the third list can reveal an assumption that has quietly become a false premise.
Treat the AI as fallible
If an answer conflicts with earlier evidence, make the people and causal link explicit, then report a suspected misjudgment in the game. You do not need to abandon supported reasoning just to agree with the host.
A practical solo session
Read the rules, enter the game and follow its age, region and account requirements. Pick a puzzle available to you and read only the opening. Ask one clear question, then let the answer guide the next. Every few turns, review what you have confirmed and check whether those facts explain the surprising outcome together.
Pause without reading the answer
When you run out of ideas, separate what is known, what has been ruled out and what still needs testing. In the key exercise, confirming a forgotten object leaves keys and a phone as different possibilities. Another question distinguishes them. If you use an in-game hint, follow the conditions shown there; a hint does not automatically solve the puzzle.