The Sage - A SiamMandalay Magazine Issue 07 by bckfwd

A Si am Man d a l ay Mag a z i n e

Issue 07 Ju ly-D ecemb er 2017

sage The

Editor Firstly, everyone at SiamMandalay would like to say a huge thank you for your support of us in our inaugural edition of The Sage. We are all excited about this journey and although it may be a winding road, we are working hard to provide all puzzles fans (yes that’s you) a quarterly print or download with the very latest on all things puzzles. We have created The Sage Magazine with the premise of spreading our love of puzzles as far as we can and allowing you, the reader, to share and participate. In pursuit of this, we invite and encourage all of you to become active with your own input; articles, images, ideas, feedback or suggestions. SiamMandalay believe in a policy of sharing knowledge and experiences, we hope that you’ll join us on this journey and share yours. Thank you,

The SiamMandalay Team

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Contents

Unique Gift Ideas for Elderly Parents: Top Picks From SiamMandalay

HOW TO WIN CONNECT 4: CONNECT FOUR STRATEGY, RULES & INSTRUCTIONS

WILLIAM L HUNTER BLUEPRINTS FROM 1928

TOP PICKS FROM SIAMMANDALAY

UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FOR ELDERLY PARENTS - Sean Allan -

The term “puzzle toy” might conjure up images of primary colored blocks for children, but it’s far broader. Today’s puzzle toys are refined and could easily double as decorative items. Puzzle toys are good gift ideas for elderly parents because they provide ample mental stimulation. 4 Photo by gaspar zaldo from Pexels

Searching for good gifts for older parents? Look no further than SiamMandalay’s variety of puzzle toys.

Numerous studies have proven that puzzles and games are invaluable in keeping older minds sharp and staving off degenerative brain diseases.

Ready to fight the negative effects of aging in a fun and engaging way? We’ve compiled a list of our top ten unique gift ideas that will help keep your elderly parents sharp for years to come!

Maturity comes with wonderful qualities such as wisdom, clarity, and insight. Unfortunately, people of advanced age are also susceptible to conditions like Alzheimers and Dementia. Those of us with mature parents know too well the fear of watching our loved ones lose cognitive function.

Puzzle toys are useful and unique gift ideas for parents. Pick your favorite from the list below and delight and surprise your elderly parents. They’ll have lots of fun engaging in the games and their brains and motor skills will flourish and stay healthy.

WINE CHALLENGE- WINE BOTTLE PUZZLE Remember how when you were young your parents used to lock the liquor cabinet to keep you out? Oh, how the tables have turned! With their favourite bottle of Chardonnay trapped inside an intricate monkeypod wood puzzle, your parents must tap into their skill, patience and determination! This puzzle boasts a difficulty level of three, but rest assured, nobody will stop until the wine is freed. As a bonus, two generations can imbibe and celebrate their success making this a truly unique gift idea for parents.

SETTING SUN It’s high noon! Leave your six-shooter at home and come armed with your wits. The object of this colourful and mentally challenging game is to guide the red sun from its starting position to a hole at the bottom, “setting it” and solving the puzzle.

SERPENT CUBE A timeless 3D puzzle toy, the Serpent Cube is designed by local artisans from monkeypod wood using fair trade policies, so it’s as globally responsible as it is lovely. Find the snake’s tail and turn the blocks according to the arrows in order to solve the puzzle. This puzzle toy is a great gift idea for elderly parents because it works their motor skills as much as it works their minds!

BALL IN A CAGE Jailbreak! Inside the intricately linked wooden bars, a prisoner awaits release. Figure out how the notched pieces are connected and free the ball inside. After you’ve deciphered the puzzle you can reconstruct the cage and trap the ball again, where it will wait until next time! Strategy and dexterity are key to solving this puzzle, keeping players on the top of their mental and physical game.

SHOOTING STAR Stylish, portable and carved from magnificent monkeypod wood, the Shooting Star is a cool little puzzle toy that requires a shrewd mind and a nimble hand. Dismantling is daunting, reassembling is a head-scratcher but when you do get it back together, it makes for a heavenly celestial accent.

BRILLIANT DIAMOND BERMUDA TRIANGLE Get lost in hours of fun with the Bermuda Triangle puzzle. The objective is to remove the smaller triangles from the center and try to position them so each colored dot is next to the same color on a different piece. With sixteen triangles in total, cracking the code is no easy feat. Play alone or combine forces with a partner. The Bermuda Triangle is a classic brainteaser that really gets the mental juices flowing!

ANCIENT KEY

DOUBLE LOCK-A-BALL

Ancient Key easily doubles as an elegant decoration. Lovingly hand-crafted of fine monkeypod wood, it’s a puzzle that has delighted generations and remains a cherished example of the finest craftsmanship and composition. All seven pieces of the polycube puzzle fit together to form the Ancient Key; a combination of pins and holes that you must solve in order to dismantle the puzzle. Can you solve it? The bigger challenge lies in putting the Ancient Key back together!

Ball in a Cage’s big brother! Double Lock-A-Ball is the maximum security joint. Good luck releasing the ball trapped inside. This creatively crafted puzzle is larger than most and requires persistence and smarts to decode. Once you’ve conquered Double Lock-A-Ball, it’s time to send that ball back up the river! When you’re not playing, Double Lock-A-Ball’s complex architecture makes for a lovely ornament in your

Hand-crafted pieces of monkeypod wood come together cleverly to fit this diamond-shaped puzzle. The smooth surface offers very little indication of where to begin, designating it at a level three difficulty. Its distinctive design makes this a neat puzzle that requires ambition and patience. A unique gift idea for parents, the Brilliant Diamond challenges them to think outside the box and really work their intellect and problem-solving skills.

3D TIC-TAC-TOE The time-honored tradition of a friendly competition of Tic-TacToe gets elevated, literally, in this 3D puzzle. It’s a very good gift for older parents because they get the added benefit of socialization with you. 3D opens up new options for scoring three X’s or O’s in a row and makes for a more formidable battle than old 2D Tic-Tac-Toe. Make the most of your time together with a little amicable rivalry and fun!

HOW TO WIN CONNECT 4 CONNECT FOUR STRATEGY, RULES & INSTRUCTIONS - Sean Allan -

CONNECT FOUR: LEARN, PLAY, WIN Been wondering how to win at connect four? Our latest post teaches you how to play, utilizing the rules, instructions strategy, pieces and winning patterns.

Instruction Guide

Solution Video

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

The Rules:

The game rules for Connect Four are just as simple as the directions for play. Since only one checker can be placed in the board at a time and all of the slots are divided into rows and columns, it’s not possible to cheat and move a checker once it has been placed. Checkers in the board may not be manipulated. Each player may drop only one checker into the grid per turn. A winner is declared when one player gets four of their colored checkers in a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Other configurations, such as squares, don’t count as winning combinations. The game is declared a stalemate or tie if all the pieces are played but nobody has four in a row. How many pieces in Connect Four? If you play a few games ending in stalemate, you’ll see there are 42, 21 of each color. As with many other board game instructions, players have developed additional and alternative rules used during personal play. Some of these rules, such as reducing the number of checkers required in a row, are meant to make the game easier for younger players. In tournament play, however, official rules are observed.

The STRATEGY:

Getting four in a row is the object of Connect Four for both players, so you want to prevent your opponent from reaching this goal. As a “zero sum” game, any advantageous move on your part is a disadvantage for your opponent. Make this work for you with a few classic Connect Four strategy moves: 1) Drop your first checker into the middle column if possible. If your opponent takes this slot, play on one side or the other to increase the possibility of creating a winning combination. 2) Look for patterns suggesting an upcoming winning move for your opponent, and block them at every opportunity. 3) Create vertical stacks of checkers to force your opponent to “waste” a move blocking you rather than building their own strategy. 4) Build a “forced win” or “seven trap” combination of three horizontal and three diagonal checkers. Your opponent can only block one of the two potential moves.

How to Play:

What is Connect Four? Connect Four is the commercial trademark name of a classic four in a row game. Simple rules and straightforward gameplay make it easy for children to learn, and the trillions of possible winning combinations present unique challenges for adults. Learning how to play the four in a row game is simple and fun. The basic directions are outlined in the official booklet sold with the game and can also be found online. Every game follows the same structure: 1) Set up the board by attaching the grid to the base or sliding the supports onto the sides of the grid. Place the grid between the two players. 2) Slide the lever at the bottom of the grid into the locked position. 3) Divide the checkers evenly between players. The classic colors are red and black, but other variations include red and yellow and black and white. 4) Determine which player goes first. This may be done using any random method, such as flipping a coin. It’s common to let the youngest player go first when playing with children. 5) The first player inserts a checker into the grid. Only after the checker has been released can the second player make his or her move. 6) Turns continue to alternate between the first and second players until someone gets four checkers of the same color lined up in a row or the board is filled without any winning moves. 7) After a winner has been determined or a tie declared, place the box underneath the grid. Slide the lever out of the locked position to release the checkers.

How to Win:

Whether you played Connect Four as a kid and are looking for a refresher course or you want to gain a competitive advantage when participating in tournaments, a thorough understanding of the rules and strategies can help you recognize patterns and triumph over your opponents every time. For a true winning strategy, use the moves above in combination with the basic rules to gain the advantage over the other player. 1) Start in the middle row. 2) Plan ahead to discover how to win any game based on the potential options for you and your opponent. 3) Block your opponent while building your competitive edge. 4) Watch for “game ending” moves, and prevent your opponent from taking advantage of them. The best way to develop a Connect Four strategy is to play the game as often as you can. Practice your moves, and study the board to learn patterns revealing potential winning tactics. The more you play, the easier it becomes to identify the moves to make to set yourself up for a win every time. Your first few games may be a little tricky, but over time you’ll master not only the basic instructions but also the complex principles governing the game.

WILLIAM L HUNTER BLUEPRINTS FROM

1928 William L Hunter blueprints from 1928. A woodworking extraordinaire. (Credit imgur)

Square Block wooden Burr puzzle - like the Links

The 45 Degree Block puzzle: AKA the Mini Lumberjack.

Notsoezy Puzzle - a clever disentanglement puzzle - similar to Orbits or the Baguenaudier

A cylindrical Burr puzzle like the Constructus.

If I were again beginning my studies, I would follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics. - Galileo Galilei -