Designed by S. Gabarchuk,
(laser cut plastic, 4.8" x 5.9" inches)
As shown on the puzzle sleeve above,
start with a pattern with a ball on the left and slide the pieces to form a symmetric pattern with a ball on the right.
All the pieces have a square bottom layer that can pass under the curve rims at the corners.
The three blank blue pieces can move anywhere,
but the other pieces have a red or yellow shape on the top layer that prevents them from moving into some corners.
Without the curved corner rims,
the puzzle could be solved in 34 moves,
but as is,
36 moves are needed:
This puzzle was designed by the incredible
Serhiy Grabarchuk who has also produced a phenomenal iOS puzzle game compendium called
Puzzlium.
As you can see above there is a fish with tail and fins in a tray
formed by a 3x4 tile grid. The aim is to reverse the fish in direction
and colour - easy right? Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) it is
NOT easy at all! Yet again there is a limitation of the movement this time caused by the curve of the corners of the tray:
 |
| The fins and tail pieces cannot be slid into the adjacent corners! |
When I first began to play with this I managed to get to a position
again where two pieces needed to be exchanged and my earlier Aha! moment
was useful but getting around the restriction was proving very tough.
After about 5 hours of attempts in total I managed to get to this
position - yep! solved it!
 |
| Done it! Now to go back to the beginning. |
Having managed this wonderful feat, I decided to work my way back to the
start position by solving in reverse....except I cannot do it! I tried
on and off for days and days and failed every time. At least with these
puzzles, it is possible to pick up the tiles and start again when you
get horribly lost. I have lost count of how many times I have had to
start again. Thinking that it may have been a left vs right brain
problem, I reset to the very beginning and tried to repeat my initial
success and
I cannot do it! I have absolutely no idea how I
managed the puzzle the first time but I have not been able to repeat it
again despite weeks of trying. This puzzle is fantastic value for money -
I heartily recommend it.
Shipping cost is
< 500g world 7.50 $
I will combine shipping cost if you have more then one puzzle.
You have to pay the paypal fees.
