Jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam, stiskni spínač.

Jakmile means as soon as.

It introduces a subordinate clause:

• Jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam = As soon as the teammate solves the puzzle

Then the main clause follows:

• stiskni spínač = press the switch

So the structure is:

• Jakmile
  • event 1,
• then event 2.

This is very common in Czech for instructions and sequencing.

Because Jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam is a subordinate clause, and Czech normally separates subordinate clauses from the main clause with a comma.

So:

• Jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam, stiskni spínač.

This is similar to English:

• As soon as the teammate solves the puzzle, press the switch.

Even though English punctuation can sometimes feel more flexible to learners, in Czech this comma is standard.

Vyřeší is grammatically a present-tense form, but because vyřešit is a perfective verb, it often refers to a future completed action.

So here:

• spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam = the teammate solves / will solve the puzzle

In natural English, you would usually translate it as:

• as soon as the teammate solves the puzzle or
• as soon as the teammate has solved the puzzle

The important idea is that the action is seen as completed.

This is an aspect question.

• řešit = to solve, to be solving, to work on solving → imperfective
• vyřešit = to solve successfully, to finish solving → perfective

So:

• řeší hlavolam = he is solving / working on the puzzle
• vyřeší hlavolam = he solves / will solve the puzzle completely

In this sentence, Czech uses vyřeší because the next action happens only after the puzzle is fully solved.

Stiskni is the imperative singular form of stisknout (to press).

It is used when speaking to one person informally:

• stiskni = press!

Other forms would be:

• stiskněte = press! (to more than one person, or politely to one person)

So the sentence is giving a direct instruction to one person:

• Press the switch.

Because Czech often leaves out subject pronouns when they are already clear from the verb form.

The verb itself shows who is being addressed:

• stiskni clearly means you (singular, informal) press

So Czech does not need to say ty here.

This is very normal:

• Stiskni spínač. = Press the switch.
• not usually Ty stiskni spínač, unless you want emphasis or contrast.

Spoluhráč is the subject of the subordinate clause, so it is in the nominative case.

• spoluhráč = teammate / fellow player

In:

• Jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam... the teammate is the one doing the action of solving, so nominative is required.

If it were an object, the form could change, but here it is simply the subject.

Yes, both are direct objects, so they are in the accusative case.

But both nouns are masculine inanimate singular, and in that category the accusative often looks the same as the nominative.

So:

• hlavolam

  • nominative: hlavolam
  • accusative: hlavolam

• spínač

  • nominative: spínač
  • accusative: spínač

So the case is changing grammatically, but the visible form happens to stay the same.

Hlavolam means puzzle, especially a brain teaser, logic puzzle, or something mentally challenging.

It is built from:

• hlava = head
• an older element related to breaking/tormenting

So the overall sense is something like a head-scratcher.

Depending on context, it could refer to:

• a logic puzzle
• a mechanical puzzle
• a riddle-like challenge

Not exactly.

Spínač usually means switch rather than button.

So:

• stiskni spínač = press the switch

But in real-world contexts, Czech may use different words depending on the device:

• spínač = switch
• tlačítko = button
• vypínač = switch, often specifically a wall switch

In a game or puzzle context, spínač can refer to some device you activate, not necessarily a small button.

Czech often leaves out possessive words like your when the relationship is obvious from context.

So spoluhráč can naturally mean:

• the teammate
• your teammate
• a teammate

depending on the situation.

In a game instruction, it is usually clear that it means your teammate or the other player on your side, so Czech does not need to say tvůj spoluhráč unless it wants extra emphasis or contrast.

Yes. Czech word order is more flexible than English.

For example, you could also say:

• Stiskni spínač, jakmile spoluhráč vyřeší hlavolam.

This still means:

• Press the switch as soon as the teammate solves the puzzle.

The version with Jakmile... first feels very natural because it sets up the condition or timing before the instruction.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• Jakmile ≈ YAK-mlee-leh
• spoluhráč ≈ SPO-loo-hraach
• vyřeší ≈ VI-rzheh-shee
• hlavolam ≈ HLA-vo-lam
• stiskni ≈ STIS-knee
• spínač ≈ SPEE-naach

A few useful pronunciation notes:

• j is pronounced like English y
• š sounds like sh
• ř is the famous Czech sound, something between r and zh
• á, í are long vowels

Stress in Czech is usually on the first syllable of each word:

• JAKmile
• SPOluhráč
• VYřeší
• HLAv olam
• STISkni
• SPÍnač