曲折的 Puzzle Madness-给初学者的建议

如您所见-我完全发疯了！

I have 不 iced that puzzlers tend to fall into 一 of two groups. There 是个 main group (who are probably my primary readers) who love all aspects of puzzling EXCEPT twisty puzzles - although as a tip of 的 hat to Erno Rubik 和 的 effect he had on 的 world starting over 30 years ago, 的y will have a basic cube or two in 的ir collection (but may even be unable to solve it). The minority group are 的 puzzlers who are completely hooked on twisty puzzles 和 have very little knowledge of 的 rest of 的 world of mechanical puzzles. Bridging 的 gap between 的 2 groups 的re are maniacs like myself, 抢 和 罗克斯  谁不能帮助自己-我们沉迷于 一切 and it is our mission to entice 的 rest of you into our lair!!! One of 的 greatest puzzle collectors 的 world has ever seen, 詹姆斯·达盖蒂，建议我 我应该专攻-选择 一 subtype of puzzle within 的 一般分类  和 stick to just that. So after talking to this great guru, I have totally ignored him 和 collect absolutely everything! My only exceptions are jigsaws, dexterity puzzles 和 I think I might stop 的 packing puzzles (because I'm rubbish 在 的m) unless 的y are particularly pretty! :-)

这篇博客的目的是回答一些我经常收到的电子邮件问题，特别是：
"我对曲折拼图是陌生的，我应该买什么？"
"我已经完成了一个多维数据集，但下一步该怎么做？"

Very recently a very good puzzle friend of mine expressed a slightly wistful dismay that he couldn't possibly keep up with 的 collections of 的 guys he referred to as "的 big boys". These guys have enormous collections of very expensive handmade or 塑身 puzzles which over a period will have cost 的m many $1000s. I expressed 的 opinion to him that his own collection was perfectly adequate - he did 不 want to get into debt 和 had a family to keep roofed, fed 和 healthy which of course should be his priority! So to him 也给你 I would suggest that with 的 twisty puzzles it should be about collecting 和 solving many puzzles that require different approaches 和 force you to think in different ways.

那你应该从哪里开始呢？
I think that everyone in 的 whole world should own a cube! In fact, ALL puzzlers should own a 3x3x3 和 a 4x4 x4 cube (unfortunately I have yet to find a Rubik own-branded cube that turns nicely). The 3x3x3 teaches basic principles which can be used as a basis for many many other puzzles. In fact using 的se very simple principles 和 an enormous amount of thought my friend Rline has managed to solve 和 produce tutorials for about 100 不同的曲折难题-他的 现场 是需要帮助和基本技术的最重要网站之一-将其添加书签并定期访问！为什么是4x4x4？因为大多数多维数据集通过将较大的多维数据集缩小为非常大（比例成比例的）3x3x3来求解，然后再求解。但是这样做的话，可以创建一个3x3x3的边，其边缘被翻转或定位的方式在普通立方体上是不可能的-这就是可怕的“奇偶性”。只有分解和重组那些部分，我们才能制造出立方体 可解决的。这听起来很可怕-但是一段时间后，它变成了曲折难题中最具挑战性的部分之一，非常有趣！一旦拥有了前两个多维数据集，您就可以变大（5x5x5到11x11x11）或更小（2x2x2）-这些不会在求解过程中添加任何内容，但是您实际上拥有更多！它们可能很有趣，但并不是下一步的必要步骤-我的像素为7x7x7，但是还没有更大的值。

那么，年轻的巴东，你接下来应该去哪里？
This can vary - if you are young 和 keen 的n maybe speedcubing is for you. The aim is to learn almost 1 million different algorithms 和 solve 的 cube in under 10 seconds! I'm afraid I am too old for that! I can barely remember who I am 在 times let alone learn all those algorithms. So I would advise my approach 和 branch out into 的 huge world of twisty puzzle variants 和 use 的 knowledge you have to solve as many as possibe (I probably only remember 12 algorithms in total 和 have learned to use 的m creatively).

When you have decided to branch out 的 sky's 的 limit:

4x4 x4超立方体

You can try shape modifications - 的se are basically a standard cube but 的 shape (or 的 axes) has been altered to throw off your thought processes. One of 的 very special features is that 的y often have "supercube aspects" where 的 centres have to have a specific orientation. These can be very challenging but once you have done a few 的n you do sort of get 的 hang of 的m. Start with 3x3 shape mods - 精吗啡 (Tetrahedron), 刀片魔方 (Rhombus), or a flip of axis with 的 appropriately named 轴立方 和 的re are many others.
对于4x4 mod，请尝试Bindi的八面体或Mask立方体，我很快就会收到一个手工制作的4x4四面体（Megamorphinx）。

精吗啡	莫菲格
轴立方	幽灵魔方

The ultimate mod is a ghost cube - 这里 we have an axis modification 和 的 cuts are 不 lined up when in cube shape! These are handmade 和 start 在 about $90 for 的 3x3 和 go up to $350 for a 5x5! Bigger mods are all handmade by some fantastic artisans but are VERY expensive!

4x4 幽灵立方体-偏离立方体形状时排列

Fearsome isn't it? It taunts me from 的 shelf!!!

Another really good suggestion for 的 next step for a trainee twisty puzzler is to try 的 cuboids - 的se are my favourites 和 的y fall into different groups depending on 的 solve process. For a summary of 的 cuboid classification look 在 this amazing video from my friend SuperAntonioVivaldi:

I would suggest that you start with a 3x3x2 (basic Domino type) 和 maybe a 3x3x4 (bigger domino cuboid), 的n go for 的 2x2x4 (basic shapeshifting cuboid), or if you are brave 的 4x4 x6 (bigger shapeshifter), 和 finally a 3x4x5 (basic brick cuboid) or 2x3x4 (smaller brick cuboid)

多米诺骨牌	3x3x4
塔	4x4 x6
3x4x5	2x3x4

Or 的re are cubic cuboids - cubes with asymmetric shaped cubies! They solve like a cuboid but can be very oddly shaped. I started with 的 3x3x9 but now have several others.

是不是很漂亮

Surely that's enough!!! I can hear you shouting it 在 me from all over 的 world! Oh no - we've barely scratched 的 surface!

另一种可行的方法是尝试一些不同的形状-12个面制成十二面体，并且可以批量生产形式使用-Megaminx是通常的开始-它等效于3x3，其求解过程基本上类似于立方体（略有不同） 。对于这些 Flowerminx/Kilominx is 的 2x2，Master Kilominx the 4x4. Going up 是个 Gigaminx (5x5), Teramix (7x7) 和 if you feel particu;arly wealthy 和 a sucker for punishment 的 Petaminx is 的 9x9 version (a snip 在 $230!!!) Again 的re is little extra to be gained by going really big apart from show-off value 和 for collecting!

2x2

3x3

4x4

So far 的se are all cubes 和 的 variations on cube type solves - I loved 的m 和 的y were a very major part of my entry into twisty madness. BUT 的y may 不 float your boat 和 的re are still many alternatives! Rather than shape mods of a cube or moving to a face turning dodecahedron, you may choose to go for an alternative mechanism of function entirely! It was 一 of 的se which finally got me totally 和 完全迷上了.

恐龙缸

How about corner turning cubes? A shallow cut version where 的 cuts meet in 的 centre would be 的 恐龙方块 - I don't have 一 yet but I have a special edition of a slightly more complex version (the 恐龙缸 by SmaZ - pictured to 的 right). A deeper cut (overlapping with each other) produces a really 在 tractive cube with a really fun solution - this 是个 雷克斯立方体. The ultimate in corner turning cubes has 的 deepest cut of all, effectively turning it into a skewed 2x2 cube - 的 歪斜 .

中切角车削-雷克斯立方体

深切角车削-Skewb

Even more interesting (and I hooked a few colleagues 在 work with 的m) are 的 edge turning cubes - 的 Helicopter cube or 的 弯曲的直升机) - I absolutely love it!

弯曲的直升机

边缘转弯！

This is where my advice to a beginner would stop! Surely 不 you cry - 的re are many more to try! You would be right but this article is primarily aimed 在 的 general puzzler who I would like to entice into a really fantastic challenging area or 的 newbie who just wants to see where 的 Rubik thing might take him!

这是我的 beginners list:

您可以从3x3速度立方体，4x4速度立方体以及5x5立方体开始。
If you don't like it 的n 的y are a good part of a collection anyway!

为此，我会添加一些便宜的长方体，例如3x3x2和2x2x4

Next would be a 3x3 mod like 的 精吗啡.

And finally in my initial selection would be 一 or two alternative mechanisms - I love 的 rex cube 和 的 弯曲的直升机 (they are just fun to solve).
所有这些都将使您损失约125-140美元！这听起来很庞大，但是如果不是几个月的学习和娱乐，这将需要数周的时间-非常值得

What about 的 next step? I am absolutely staggered that in less than a year I have reached this level 和 even beyond! It will take you to 的 true realms of twisty puzzle madness. You might want to go for 的 Crazy cubes which have circles within 的m - I adore 的m but 的y are 不 for 的 faint-hearted or 初学者 - 的y can be very very tough! I have reviewed a few 这里 。实际上，自从该评论以来，我已经购买了更多包括长方体在内的东西，它们也很疯狂！

Of course, 的re are 的 very odd shapes - 的 Dayan gems were reviewed by me 这里 . 和 的 various Dayan stars have been introduced by 罗克斯 这里 . Some of 的se are on my shopping list.

At 的 moment I am playing with bandaged cubes - 的y are very tough because everything you have learned before can be blocked due to 的 bandaging. My recent challenge was 的 4x4 x4 AI bandaged cube 和 I am currently playing with a 3x3x3 bandaged kit which allows me to construct my own - hours, days, weeks 和 months of puzzling fun!

ew！那是一个列表和大量信息！我真的希望您对此有所帮助！

Can you tell that I am really into 的se? They start cheap, provide hours of fun, are repeatable many times but can get very very complex 和 very very expensive!
Go on - go out 和 buy some 和 try 的m!

你会喜欢它！

让我知道您对此主题的想法 -这真的成为我的爱好之一（仅这篇文章就花了几个小时才能写出来）-我有 不 learned millions of algorithms. What I have done is learn a few useful techniques 和 的n applied 的m to many other cubes/shapes 和 puzzles.
告诉我你如何通过我的 联系页面.

我通常会提供指向与我联系以寻求建议的人员的链接列表，我将在此重复。

Browse 的  曲折的 puzzle论坛 - we are a nice bunch!! You can lurk for ages but to post 和 join 的 community you need to apply - be patient, 的 requests are hand vetted 和 this can take a while!

要轻松解决，请访问：

Rline令人费解的网站 - this 是个 best tutorial 现场 的re is for many many different puzzles - it will take you through a very basic system (from 的re you can branch out to learn more techniques as you need 的m.

For 的 best video help go to:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperAntoniovivaldi/videos -乔恩（Jon）提供了大量批量生产和手工制作的拼图的教程。他还将制作视频，专门帮助陷入困境的人。

Here's some links for where to purchase 的 puzzles I have mentioned in whichever continent you may be (I have personally used all 的 现场 s I mention):

立方体：

2x2 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
3x3- 英国 , 我们 , 香港
4x4  - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
5x5 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

形状模组：

3x3- 精吗啡-  英国 , 我们 , 香港
3x3- Blade cube - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
3x3- Axis cube - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

4x4  - 宾迪的八面体 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

长方体：

3x3x2 - 英国 , 我们  (Domino cube), 香港
2x2x4 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
4x4 x6 - 我们 , 香港
3x4x5 - 我们 , 香港
2x3x4 - 我们 , 香港

立方长方体：

3x3x5 - 英国 , 香港
3x3x7 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
3x3x9 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

替代形状：
超级矿物质 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

替代机制：
恐龙方块 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港

雷克斯立方体 - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
歪斜  - 英国 , 我们 , 香港
弯曲的直升机 - 英国  （仅适用于直升机立方）， 我们 , 香港