Gordian’s Knot Brainteaser Challenge by ThinkFun

Gordian’s Knot Brainteaser Challenge by ThinkFun. This is widely considered one of the most difficult "take-apart" puzzles ever mass-produced. ​Quick Facts: - ​The Goal: You must slide the six interlocking pieces in a specific sequence to dismantle the knot. - ​Difficulty: It requires exactly 69 moves to take it apart completely. - ​The Pieces: There are six colored pieces: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Orange. - ​The Inventor: It was designed by Frans de Vreugd using a computer program to find the most complex configuration possible for a six-piece "burr" puzzle. ​How to Solve It: - ​Solving this by trial and error is notoriously difficult because many moves are "blind alleys" or require you to move multiple pieces at once. - ​The "Take-Apart" Logic: You generally start by trying to find the first piece that can wiggle free. According to the official guide, the Orange and Green pieces are often the first to show significant movement, but they won't come out until dozens of steps have been completed. - ​No Brute Force: The pieces are designed to slide smoothly. If you feel like you have to force or bend the plastic, you haven't found the right move yet. - ​The Solution Guide: Your first photo shows the "Take-Apart Solution Guide." If you still have that booklet, it contains a step-by-step map. - ​The "Gordian" Backstory ​As mentioned in the booklet in your photo, the name comes from the Greek legend of the Gordian Knot. A prophecy claimed that whoever could untie the complex knot would rule Asia. While others struggled for centuries, Alexander the Great famously "solved" it by simply slicing it in half with his sword—a reminder that sometimes a complex problem requires a bold, unconventional solution. (Though for this plastic version, I'd recommend sliding over slicing!)