At first glance, this puzzle seems incredibly straightforward. You’re presented with a simple image and a basic instruction: count the number of dots. Easy, right? After all, how complicated could counting dots possibly be? But like many viral puzzles that circulate across the internet, this one is not as simple as it first appears.

It’s a classic example of how our brains can be tricked by assumptions and visual biases. The image in question shows a series of green dots arranged in a cross-like formation, and your instinct is to quickly scan and count them. But here’s where the challenge comes into play. Most people rush to tally the visible dots without realizing that the puzzle is designed to mislead or at least test how thoroughly you’re paying attention. What makes this particular brain teaser interesting is that it cleverly takes advantage of how the human mind processes visual information. Our brains are wired to look for patterns and simplify complex images, which helps us navigate daily life more efficiently. But when it comes to puzzles like this one, that same tendency can lead us astray. When we see the arrangement of dots, we naturally focus on the most prominent elements, assuming that’s all there is to see. In doing so, we often overlook the smaller, more subtly placed details that are just as important. So, let’s break it down and take a closer look. First, the most noticeable dots are the black ones placed at the intersections or endpoints of the green cross.

A quick count reveals that there are seven black dots in total. Most people will stop right there and proudly declare, “Seven!”—confident they’ve nailed the answer. But the puzzle doesn’t stop with the obvious. That’s where it gets clever. It throws in extra visual components, like punctuation marks and letters that also contain dots, which most people don’t even think to include. For instance, if the image includes a question mark anywhere in the design, and you’re looking closely, you’ll realize that the dot underneath it counts as well. The same goes for an exclamation mark, which typically has a dot at its base. So now we’ve added at least two more dots—one from the question mark and one from the exclamation mark—bringing the count to nine.

But we’re still not finished. Let’s say the puzzle also includes a word like “Geniuses.” If it does, and you inspect each letter carefully, you’ll notice that the lowercase “i” has a dot, and depending on the font, the letter “j” might as well. Assuming there are two such dotted letters, you now have a total of eleven dots. Suddenly, what seemed like a straightforward task has turned into a layered observation exercise. It’s no longer about just counting what’s clearly visible but also about noticing what’s hidden in plain sight. That’s the whole point of the puzzle—to challenge your perception and test how attentive you are to detail. It teaches us something interesting about cognitive biases. Specifically, the phenomenon where our minds automatically filter out information that doesn’t immediately seem relevant. We tend to zero in on what we think matters most and ignore the rest, often missing critical pieces in the process. This is something that extends far beyond puzzles. In everyday life, these same mental shortcuts can cause us to overlook important details or make hasty decisions based on incomplete information. So, while this dot puzzle might seem like a harmless bit of fun, it actually offers a small but powerful lesson: slow down and pay attention. Look beyond the obvious. Whether you’re analyzing a visual challenge or making decisions in your personal or professional life, the ability to spot subtle clues can make all the difference. It’s a reminder that sometimes the things we overlook are the very things that carry the most weight. So next time someone asks you how many dots are in the image, take a deep breath, look again, and make sure you’re seeing everything—not just what’s screaming for your attention. Because in the world of brain teasers and beyond, the devil is almost always in the details.