Puzzles
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Updated 2011.10.13 00:15 +0200 |
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A puzzling passion
Welcome to my puzzle page - describing my collection of primarily mechanical puzzles. It's
not a huge collection but I'm still collecting, so if you know about some good
puzzles or interesting places to buy puzzles please let me know. You may click on each
of them for getting more detailed information. Enjoy.
Definitions
- A puzzle is a problem having one or more specific objectives, contrived for the principle purpose of exercising ones ingenuity and/or patience.
- A mechanical puzzle is a physical object comprising one or more parts which falls within the above definition.
Links
Places to buy puzzles in Denmark
Places to buy puzzles on the Internet
Puzzle classification
The classification presented below is not of my invention. They are courtesy of The Puzzle Museum at
http://www.puzzlemuseum.com/class/pzcla99a.htm
The 14 main classes
The 14 main classes are as following:
- Dexterity Puzzles [DEX]
- Require the use of manual dexterity or other physical skills in their solution.
- Route finding Puzzles [RTF]
- Require the solver to find either any path, or a specific path as defined by certain rules.
- Tanglement Puzzles [TNG]
- Have parts that must be linked or unlinked. The linked parts, which may be flexible, have significant freedom of movement in relation to each other,
unlike the parts of an interlocking puzzle.
- Opening Puzzles [OPN]
- Are puzzles in which the principle object is to open it, close it, undo it, remove something from it, or otherwise get it to work. They usually
comprise a single object or associated parts such as a box with its lid, a padlock and its hasp, or a nut & bolt. The mechanism of the puzzle is not
usually apparent, nor do they involve general assembly or disassembly of parts that interlock in 3D.
- Interlocking Puzzles [INT]
- Interlock in three dimensions, i.e. one or more pieces hold the rest together, or the pieces are mutually self‑sustaining. Many clip‑together
puzzles are "non‑interlocking".
- Jigsaw Puzzles [JIG]
- Are made as if cut or stamped into pieces from a single complete object, and the principle objective is to restore them to their unique original form.
- Assembly Puzzles (non-interlocking) [ASS]
- Require the arrangement of separate pieces to make specific shapes without regard to the sequence of that placing, they may clip together but do not interlock in 3D.
Some have a container and are posed as packing problems.
- Pattern Puzzles [PAT]
- Require the placing or arrangement of separate pieces of a similar nature to complete surface patterns according to
defined rules. The pattern required may be the matching of edges of squares, faces of cubes, etc. The pattern may be color, texture, shape, etc. Where the
pattern is due to differences in shape they must be sufficiently minor not to obscure the similarity of the pieces.
- Folding & Hinged Puzzles [FOL]
- Have parts that are joined together and usually do not come apart. They are solved by hinging, flexing, or folding.
- Sequential Movement Puzzles [SEQ]
- Are those that can be solved only by moves which can be seen to be dependant on previously made moves.
- Jugs & Vessels [JUG]
- Have a mechanical puzzle or trick in their construction that affects the filling, pouring or drinking therefrom.
- Other Types of Mechanical Puzzles & Objects [OTH]
- This group is for puzzle objects that do not easily fall into the above categories and cannot be categorized into sufficiently large groups to warrant their own
major class. Included in this group are Balancing, Measuring, Cutting, Math, Logic, Trick, Mystery, & Theoretical puzzles. Also provision is made for puzzles pending classification.
- Ambiguous Pictures & Puzzling Objects [AMB]
- In which something appears impossible or ambiguous.
- Non-puzzle but related Ephemera [EPH]
- Has been included as most puzzle collections include related ephemera which, whilst not strictly puzzles, need to be classified as part of the collection.
