NS-018

Find the next number: 4, 14, 44, 134, 404, ?

Rule: Apply two steps repeatedly: ×3 then +2.

So the next number is 1214.

• Picking the first pattern you see without checking it against all rows/columns.
• Ignoring the simplest rule (counts, rotations, alternations) and jumping to a complex story.
• Not testing your rule on the middle row/column (where many puzzles “break” bad rules).