New York Puzzle Party

The annual New York Puzzle Party will take place Saturday February 13, 2010. This is the day before the New York International Toy Fair. Many people have emailed me questions about the International Puzzle Party (IPP). The IPP is an annual gathering of puzzle-minded folks. It is by invitation only. Figuring out how get an invitation is a puzzle itself. The NYPP is more open. If you want to come, shoot me an email & I'll provide more details. I anticipate 40 people will attend the upcoming NYPP.

Rubik in the Classroom New York Times

Read more:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/learning-math-from-the-rubiks-cube/?scp=1&sq=rubik&st=cse

This Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent has been teaching Rubik's Cube for 13 years at a private school. Kids love it. Especially the solving competition in the school auditorium in front of EVERYBODY.

Rubik's Hat or Rubik's Rabbit

This puzzle is very rare. Twist the layers around, hold it up to a light to see all the rabbits. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to talk with the inventor: Ron Druben. He thought that the puzzle was never sold in the US. Not true, according to 2 puzzle collectors who bought it years ago. Ron Druben is also responsible for inventing Tickle Me Elmo.

Rubik's Cube Championship

This Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent LOVES Rubik's Cube. However, there are so many championship tournaments which include silly events like solving the cube one-handed. Other events: 2x2, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, Rubik's Clock, Rubik's Magic, Square-1, Pyraminx, Megaminx, and countless others. Some speedcubers have timed themselves using chopsticks.

I attended one of these tournaments in Riverdale, New York (2003?) Nobody was in the audience. Except for the parents of the participants. Boring!

When Roger Bannister cracked the 4-minute mile - that was momentous! But nobody knows (or cares) who holds the current record or what the time is.

Same for Rubik's cube and all the other categories. Having so many categories diminishes the significance of the only one that should count. Organizers of speed cubing events should consider why the general public ignores eating contests.

Nevertheless, this Mechanical puzzle correspondent HIGHLY RESPECTS those who can solve Rubik's Cube blindfolded and those who strive to find the fewest # of moves.

To the Speedcubers: keep doing what you're doing because it's fun. However, please realize that there's a whole world of other puzzles to explore.

http://www.speedcubing.com/

Dogic

5 years ago the only way to obtain a Dogic was to hope that somebody put one up for auction on Ebay. The typical price: $400.

A couple of years ago Uwe Meffert started making them. Unfortunately, he's completely out of stock and will not make them again! Our advice: when Mefferts.com says a puzzle will be offered for a limited time - get it right away. And if you're smart, you'll order 2 copies - 1 for trade.

http://sites.webec.com.hk/meffert/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&id=1199889&product=154

Games Magazine

http://gamesmagazine-online.com/

Christmas & Chanukah are right around the corner. Get 2 subscriptions: one as a gift and the other for yourself. Games Magazine has a few crosswords, battleships, rebus puzzles and lots of other cool stuff! Superb for adults, also fun for kids.

People who subscribe to Games Magazine - they never throw them out. Because they're something special as opposed to Time & Newsweek.

Book Review: Einstein's Riddle by Jeremy Stangroom

www.bloomsbury.com

Jeremy Stangroom has done a nice job of compiling classic brain teasers into one slim volume. Perfect for youngsters who are not familiar with Zeno, Monty Hall, The Prisoner's Dilemma, The Hotel Infinity, and the Dollar Auction. Let's not forget Einstein's Riddle!

Kuku is now available!

Shady Puzzles

In the above image, a completed Shady Puzzle. They go by other names. The people at shadypuzzle.com have put together a nice userface for fun solving. The 7x7 puzzles are where the real fun starts.

Christmas/Chanukah are right around the corner. Get some of their books for somebody.

Probability Puzzle from Martin Gardner

Mr. Jones has a bunch of daughters. If you pick 2 of them randomly, there's a 50% chance that both will be blue eyed. How many daughters does he have and what color eyes do they have?

DISQUALIFIIED!!

Yesterday this Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent received a phone call from a political pollster about the New York City race for Mayor. (Yes, it was during dinner.)

The first question: "Do you blog?"

"Yes, but nothing to do with politics."

"Sorry, we can't poll opinion makers."

Tucker Jones Tavern Puzzles

The good folks at Tucker Jones - Donna & Dennis Sucilsky are running a contest.

"What is it?" Contest #1
Send us an email with CONTEST #1 as the subject line. Include your name and address (required).

Send your answer to NewYorkPuzzles@aol.com.

Be as specific as possible with your answer.
Hint: Visit our website for a clue to help you figure out what is shown in the photo.

http://www.tavernpuzzle.com/

Brain String

www.brainstring.com

My friend Nancy in Canada is a big fan of entanglements. Brain String is interesting. You move the pegs and watch the inner strings form crazy knots. Good luck disentangling them! Brain String is the brain child of Guido Lap and Oskar van Deventer.

The Puzzle King

http://betsycarter.net/

Betsy Carter has written a novel about her great uncle Simon Phelps who was hailed by Time Magazine as The Puzzle King. Simon Phelps created die-cut jigsaw puzzles and made a mint. The novel is not really about puzzles. It's about Jews moving to America before the rise of Nazi Germany and then trying to get family members out. The first mention of puzzles appears on page 244! Nevertheless, it's still a good read. The real Puzzle King was Morris Einson.

Anne Williams - jigsaw puzzle scholar/expert was consulted by the author.

This blog is hoping that more novels & films will feature puzzlers as main characters!

By the way, look for the February 2010 issue of Games Magazine which will hit newsstands Dec 1. I have an article about MODERN jigsaws.

Puzzles in the News

Geek's puzzling present for traveling pal's nups

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/geek_puzzling_present_for_traveling_EEjIXg1wfcHPdMoli3qx3M

Martin Gardner!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/science/20tier.html

Every 2 years there is a Gathering For Gardner. It's a convention that brings together people interested in puzzles, recreational mathematics, and magic. The next one will be in March 2010. Naturally, I'll be attending and covering the event for Games Magazine.

My favorite Martin Gardner puzzle is the one about the 5 men on an island gathering coconuts.

The Microxylometagrabologist

Allan Boardman is the world's greatest Microxylometagrabologist. He specializes in making the tiniest interlocking puzzles. Check out the 3 piece Burr resting on FDR's nose. I believe Allan has attended all but 1 of the 29 International Puzzle Parties. (I've attended 9, by contrast.)

So, go buy his book!

Games Magazine (Sept 2006) has a 2-page article about Allan Boardman. Maybe you can buy an old copy by contacting the magazine. Or check ebay. If that fails, contact me.

Master Pyramorphinx

I've had my eye on getting this puzzle for more than 15 years. Finally, it is made available at Mefferts.com

It's challenging! However, this Mechanical Puzzle Expert was able to decode it and come up with a solving algorithm. However, this puzzle can be JUMBLED. I did jumble it, and resorted to taking it apart.

What is JUMBLING? Jumbling is when you make a half turn, and then continue. So in this instance, a corner piece could be moved to an edge or center piece.

Jethro Tull wrote a song about this puzzle concept called Bungle in the Jumble. Most people thought he said Jungle.

Disco Ball

Who needs a disco ball when you can illuminate your party with the new Rubik's TouchCube? Very cool. But essentially the same puzzle.

See photo below.

Rubik's TouchCube

Just got my new electronic Rubik's TouchCube. It's completely electronic and has a terrific glow. Since it's still daytime & I couldn't wait, I went into the closet to solve it. Will the editors at Games Magazine appreciate the suffering of this poor Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent?

http://www.rubikstouchcube.com/#

Double Trouble

Double Trouble - by the legendary Larry Nichols - who invented the first 2x2x2 Rubik's Cube. The Grabarchuk Framily is hosting this little gem. It's an online puzzle that resembles the 15 puzzle. Here's the catch: you must shift 2 tiles at a time.

It would be great to have a mechanical version of this. But this online version is great anyway.

http://www.ageofpuzzles.com/Puzzles/DoublePlay/DoublePlay.htm

Turbo Mind Twister

The Turbo Mind Twister is essentially the same puzzle as Saturn. (See the previous post.) It's made by out friends at FoxMind. We wrote an article about the FoxMind puzzle products about 2 years ago for Games Magazine.

http://www.foxmind.co.il/eng/game-e.php?n=81

Saturn Puzzle

The Saturn Puzzle consists of 8 sliding tiles - tricky. A must for the sequential movement fan!

http://www.magnif.com/2350.htm

Wriggle Puzzles for iphone

http://www.clickmazes.com/tjwrig/ixjwrig.htm#iphone

http://www.clickmazes.com/wriggle/ixwriggle.htm You can play some wriggle puzzles on this site. They're small - but tough!

Hyper Frame

Hyper Frame puzzles are very similar to Lab Mice Puzzles. They're fun & addictive. Just remember to eat & sleep.

http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/hyperframe.jsp

Pentominioes

If you're a fan of pentominoes (I'm not), check out this online magazine that's devoted to them. Produced by Rodolfo Kurchan

http://www.puzzlefun.com.ar/

Panex Puzzle

The Panex Puzzle sells for a lot of money anytime it's listed on ebay. However, you can play it for free here: http://www.cheesygames.com/panex/

This puzzle looks similar to the Tower of Hanoi. However, there's something different. Extremely difficult. Nobody has calculated the least # of moves. But it's between 27000 & 31,000

Magical Gear Puzzles

Doug Engel has quietly designed some of the coolest, most challenging puzzles in the last 10 years. If you're a sequential movement fan - you need to get ALL of his puzzles. Games Magazine had a 6 page article on his puzzles in the December 2007 issue.

This puzzle is called Let Em Fly. Getting the colored circles is the first problem, getting the arrows to point up - that's where the real challenge lies.

Go Doug! http://www.puzzleatomic.com/FLATLAND%20GEARS.htm

Dexterity Puzzle

Great time-waster. Click on the red square and move it immediately to the bottom - don't go over the edge. The object is to keep the red square away from the mobile blue rectangles. Note, they speed up! 20 seconds: very good. 30 seconds: wow. 40 seconds: you are a God!

http://www.iol.ie/~dluby/escape.htm

Ark of the Covenant Box

The Ark of the Covenant is a 25 move to open puzzle box.
Ark of the Covenant is constructed with Walnut and is 24k gold leafed.
To make a purchase, send email to: pahpool@midmaine.com

Be prepared to spend $500

ReVoMaze & Games Magazine

Look for the November issue of Games Magazine. There is a 2-page review about the puzzle.

You can buy the ReVoMaze here: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/games/c247/ and http://www.puzzlemaster.ca/search/?q=revomaze

These puzzles are compelling hard. Designed by Chris Pitt in England

Think Fun Discount

Think Fun has a nice set of puzzles for kids in grades 3-8. Makes a good gift for kids. Buy one for your neighborhood school.

http://www.thinkfungameclub.com/sale_gameclub.htm

Kuku puzzle

Andrew Reeves invented the Isis puzzle a couple of years ago. At the New York International Toy Fair - February 2009 - I had the opportunity to meet Andrew and play with his new Kuku puzzle. This puzzle is a lot of fun and will drive you cuckoo. The Kuku puzzle has different levels of complexity. The easiest level is not so easy. The hard & hardest levels are VERY HARD. The puzzle is made of brushed aluminum and is just plain fun!

http://www.sonicwarp.com/kuku/

All Five Puzzle

Wayne Daniel designed this incredible puzzle. Each of these 5 puzzles rests inside a larger puzzle - like the Russian dolls within dolls. This puzzle was written up in the New York Times. At the 2006 International Puzzle Party in Boston, Wayne Daniel sold me his last copy. Naturally, I had to write about it for Games Magazine. Wayne Daniel also produced a fine animation about the construction of the puzzle. You can buy a copy at www.mrpuzzle.com.au/prod131.htm Brian Young is Mr. Puzzle and is a good puzzler.

Planets Puzzle

Another gem from the mind of Oskar van Deventer. Check out http://recenttoys.com/



By the way, if you're interested in joining the Oskar van Deventer fan club, shoot me a note.

Puzzle Auction

http://www.puzzleparadise.ca/ John Devost is running a puzzle auction. Great opportunity to add to your collection!

The puzzle above was designed by Leonid Mochalov.

Rubik's Cube Math Program Back To School Special

https://stuff.youcandothecube.com/Shopping%20Cart.aspx
Seems like only the shopping cart link works. Nevertheless, we are always pleased to see puzzles in the classroom. We envision students asking their teachers: when are we ever going to need to solve Rubik's Cube? Teacher response: say you're at a party and a good looking female has brought her cube....you can teach her!

Zoki: Edge Matching puzzle

This Mechanical Puzzle correspondent had the good fortune of spending an afternoon with the inventor of Zoki, Zoran Pavlovic. Zoki can be played as a puzzle or as a competitive game. Zoran Pavlovic created 2 other edgematching games, but they seem to be no longer available.

If you ever meet Zoran Pavlovic, ask him to show you the photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger holding the Zoki in 2 hands. (I was able to lift it in 1 hand.)

www.zoki.com

Artifact Jigsaw Puzzles

www.artifactpuzzles.com Laser cut jigsaw puzzles. They're having a 25% discount sale!

Use coupon Code: INITIATE
Expires: 9/11/2009

This Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent has not had the opportunity to play-test these jigsaw puzzles. So if you have, please contact us!

Slide Bar Puzzle

Mike Henkes created this terrific online puzzle. The 2 rectangular white pieces are fixed and cannot be slid. You must transfer the yellow bar from the top to the bottom. Difficult and fun.

http://home.wanadoo.nl/mike.henkes/

Bram's Cube

I had the good fortune to play with Bram's Cube at the International Puzzle Party 29 in San Francisco last month. Great mechanism. Very difficult. Must buy!

http://www.shapeways.com/model/31121/bram_s_cube.html

YOT PUZZLES

YOT & YOT II are both great puzzles. Indestructible too. (I have the first YOT II ever sold.)

www.yot.com

Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition

Katsuhiko Okamoto has created another masterpiece in the 'custom twisty puzzle' tradition. It will supposedly be commercially available soon. It won Puzzle of the Year at the prestigious IPP convention a few weeks ago. Congratulations!

http://puzzle3d.hp.infoseek.co.jp/

Lab Mice Puzzles - In Italian

Lab Mice Puzzles - now available in Italy! This humble Mechanical Puzzle Correspondent for Games Magazine is now an International Author.

Tens of thousands have already ordered copies of Lab Mice Puzzle - printed in America, now those Lab Mice Puzzle fanatics can buy the Italian edition.

http://libreriarizzoli.corriere.it/libro/cutrofello_tom-dedalo_lab_mice.aspx?ean=9788862980593

Puzzle Sculptures

Decades/centuries from now, people will be talking about George Hart's puzzle sculptures. Buy a piece to enhance your home and as an investment!

http://georgehart.com/puzzles/index.html

LOST (TV SHOW)

At the International Puzzle Party (IPP 29) in San Francisco, I was surprised that so many puzzlers did not watch LOST. I did have an hour long conversation with Bill Darrah about our theories of LOST.

Issue: How many times has John Locke been killed?
1. His father threw him out of an office tower window. (Coincidentally, Hurley was on a lower floor meeting with his lawyer and saw the body go past that window.)

2. Hunting wild boar on the island with Michael and Kate, the smoke monster approaches. Nobody sees it attack Locke, but Kate tells Jack - the thing got Locke. Jack then sees his father run into the bush, he runs after and encounters....Locke

3. Ben shoots Locke and he falls into the mass grave of the Dharma Initiative. Locke mysteriously shows up later as if nothing had happened.

4. Locke is strangled by Ben.

My prediction: Walt will throw a knife into Locke's back to kill him again. But he probably won't stay dead.

To the hundreds of puzzlers who have been sending me emails, keep 'em coming!

Liberty Puzzles

This Mechanical Puzzles Correspondent normally does not do jigsaw puzzles. However, http://www.libertypuzzles.com/ has some great art work and the puzzles are laser cut. The wood is .25" thick. The pieces are funky. I didn't want to go to sleep last night!

Crazy Elephant Dance

This puzzle is the ternary sequel to ThinkFun's Spinout. Invented by Markus Gotz. Terrific puzzle. Click here to play the applet http://markus-goetz.de/
Click here to see someone who's played the applet for youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QEx7UFa_AI

200 Year Old Puzzle Finally Solved

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124648494429082661.html?mod=yhoofront

Strimko & Chain Sudoku

The Grabarchuk Family created Strimko. Conceptis is now publishing the same type of puzzles under the name Chain Sudoku. www.strimko.com