This looks more like an optical illusion object than an actual puzzle. The mesmerizing pattern created by these two loops almost gives a sense of movement. Its designer is none other than Jean Claude Constantin.

The 2 Loops is actually a Packing Puzzle with six pieces. Simply remove the pieces from the tray and pack them up again. It’s deceptively easy, considering the complexity of the two shapes. The puzzle is made from two contrasting wood tones, which gives an impression that only the lighter parts can be removed and the others are part [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, Wood Puzzles

TapGem is a very interesting puzzle app game.  The object is to place 4 gems on each colored region and ensure that each row and column has the correct number of gems as indicated. See the left margin and the row of numbers on the top.

If a number is in black, then you have satisfied the correct number of gems in that row or column. You can then white out the other squares because they cannot have gems.

There are 60 free levels. I’ve done all the easy and medium levels.  Here’s what I don’t like: many of these [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, iPhone/iPad Puzzle Games

Most magic tricks are quite simple – when you know the secret. This little Magic Box, 3″ X 2″ X 1 1/2″, will stump just about everyone who sees it for the first time. It is made of fairly thick clear acrylic plastic. It will withstand a good amount of usage; but certainly can be broken if excessive and unnecessary force is used on it. This is true to most brainteasers and should never be given to macho types who relish in breaking them and handing them back broken, saying,”There, solved!!” I also have one of these [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, Put together Puzzles

In addition to his wide variety of designs, Jean Claude Constantin also makes puzzles of all types and categories. This time, I have one that requires a good amount of dexterity, the Impuls (Inertia). The German word Impuls might be interpreted to English as impulse or momentum, or as the alternate name Inertia. It’s a very fitting name, as you’ll discover when you try it for yourself.

Impuls, like any other Constantin puzzle, has a very elegant and functional design. This is quite a small puzzle, actually, measuring only 6 x 5 x 5cm (2.4″ x 2″ x [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, Wood Puzzles

The Andromeda, by Philos, is a fairly well known puzzle among puzzle enthusiasts. It has been around for years, made by several companies and in various sizes. It is a little intimidating, and for good reason. It consists of 12 pieces. There are 4 shapes of pieces with 2 of each. Then there is a 5th shape, of which there are 4. This take-apart wooden puzzle is called a Burr; and there are many different ones available, and they can become very complicated and challenging. This one is given a difficulty level of 7 out of 10.  Maybe it [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, Wood Puzzles

Chemin is by Enrique Brandariz:  http://www.enriquebrandariz.com/chemin/CheminEN/Home.html

You are given numbered red squares – already fixed in the grid. Your task is to till the missing numbers so that there is a snake pattern from start to finish.  By the way, the word Chemin means road in French.

The grid sizes are 4×4, 5×5, 6×6 and 7×7.  25 levels per grid size. I raced through them and completed everything within 2 days.

The concept is not new. Marilyn vos Savant, supposedly the smartest person in the world, calls her version Numbrix. So I’ve been doing these for ages.

Chemin’s user [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, iPhone/iPad Puzzle Games

I have been intrigued by puzzles of all sorts ever since a young lad over 60 years ago. Since that time I have found many and have several hundred in my collection. I enjoy hand held mechanical puzzles, into which I place this one. I also love puzzle books of all kinds. One of my favorite are mazes. What the Money Maze puzzle does is combine mazes with a hand held box which is to be opened. There is no tricky secret to this puzzle, as is often the case. All it takes is a bit of [Read More...]

Category: All Puzzles, Maze Puzzles