An Icehouse Solo Puzzle

You need: One icehouse stash

Arrange the pieces of your Icehouse stash in a 4x4 grid (with one empty space) either according to a preset puzzle or randomly, with all the pieces facing in orthogonal directions.

For your first game, here's a very basic puzzle:

			(left empty)

The Object:

To have all the pieces pointing the same direction.

The Mechanic:

Pick one piece, and rotate it one turn either clockwise or counterclockwise. Whatever piece it is pointing at now is rotated in the same direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

If the original piece is a small: Stop there

Step 1: The small piece is picked.	Step 2: The small piece is rotated, in this case one turn clockwise. It is now pointing at the Large piece.	Step 3: The Large piece is also rotated one turn clockwise. Since you started with a small piece, you're done. Pick a new piece to rotate until you solve the puzzle.

If the original piece is a medium: Whatever piece the second piece that was rotated is pointing at is also rotated in the same direction.

Step 1: The medium piece is picked.	Step 2: The medium piece is rotated, in this case one turn clockwise. It is now pointed at the small piece.	Step 3: The small piece is now rotated, one turn clockwise. It is now pointing at the large piece.	Step 4: The large piece is now rotated, one turn clockwise. Because you started with a medium, you stop there.

If the original piece is a large: Same as medium, but once more.

Step 1: The large piece is picked.	Step 2: The large piece is rotated, in this case one turn clockwise. It is now pointed at the medium piece.	Step 3: The medium piece is now rotated, one turn clockwise. It is now pointing at the small piece.	Step 4: The small piece is now rotated, one turn clockwise. It is now pointing at the medium piece.	Step 5: The medium piece is now rotated, one turn clockwise. (Note that this is the second time the medium has been rotated in the same process) You stop there.

If at any point a piece is pointing at nothing (either the blank space on the grid or the edge of the board), the process stops, and you may make another move.

Continue making moves until, at the end of a rotation process, all the pieces are pointed in the same direction. When this happens, you win!

Creating puzzles:

An easy way to make puzzles is to arrange the pieces randomly, and point them all the same way. Then move one of the larges so it disturbs several pieces. Now try to put it back.

If you play the game and have fun, or if you have any puzzles to send me, please email me.