Puzzle guide
How to Identify an Unknown Wooden Puzzle
A practical checklist for identifying an old wooden brain teaser by its shape, pieces, notches and construction.
Start with features that do not depend on knowing the name. Record the overall shape, count the separate pieces and note whether the puzzle is held together by string or elastic.
Photograph the puzzle clearly
Take one photograph of the completed puzzle and another of every separate piece laid on a plain background. Include a ruler or coin for scale. Photograph notches from above as well as from the side.
Classify the construction
- Burr puzzle: notched sticks slide through one another around a central core.
- Polycube: blocks made from joined cubes combine to make a larger cube.
- Sequential assembly: curved or shaped pieces form a ball, star or barrel.
- Linked chain: cubes are permanently joined by elastic or cord.
Search by visible facts
Try descriptions such as “six-piece wooden cross”, “14-piece wooden ball” or “27 connected cube puzzle”. Alternative names vary between manufacturers, so visual comparison is often more reliable than a product name.