I thought the puzzles were easy as fuck, but then I also used to play bounds on broodwar which were at least x10 harder than these....
The first puzzle you don't even have to watch what you are doing, just figure out the correct map (no 2 maps have the same blue square starting positions). After you figure out the correct map, note your starting position and figure that out on the template. Then arrow through it while looking at just the template.
The flame one they are in synch every other lane. So, think odds/evens. Odds are on while evens are off and vice versa.