Pack all 19 puzzle pieces completely into the acrylic cube, as shown in the picture.
These challenges will take you through the packing step by step.
Step 1:
Assemble the pieces as shown in the picture.
Step 2:
After completing step 1, add some more pieces as shown.
Step 3:
After completing Step 2, add more pieces as shown.
Step 4:
After completing step 3, add some more pieces as shown.
Step 5:
After completing step 4, add some more pieces as shown.
Step 6:
After completing step 5, add some more pieces as shown.
Final Step:
After completing step 6, add the final pieces to complete the puzzle.
The unique red piece gives the puzzle its name, and is the central piece of this puzzle. A cushion shot in pool or billiards is a shot that hits the sides of the table (the cushion) one or more times before it strikes the target ball. In this puzzle, the central red piece traces the endless path that a ball would take in a gravity-free, friction-free environment, as it bounces off each face of the cube.
Thus, this central piece touches each face of the cube in a symmetrical way.
Take a look at the top face of the finished packing shown in the picture in order to get the orientation of the pieces. Every face has 6 pieces positioned in the same way, meeting with one of the tips of the central piece. You can see the tip of the red central piece peeking out at the point where all the 7 pieces meet. This happens on every face.
The large white pieces fit together in threes to form a semi cube with 3 square faces each. You can see two of the faces of this semi-cube in the picture on the top and front faces of the box. The third face is on the left. The other three pieces form a similar semi-cube that sits at the opposite corner of the box. They will form similar squares on right, back and bottom faces of the box, so theat each face looks the same.
Try to solve the puzzle using these hints. Good luck!
Need more help? Go through the challenges, which will guide you step-by-step to the solution.
Packing puzzles consist of several pieces that must be packed into a 3-D enclosure such as a cube. The 6-cushion shot is an ingenious packing puzzle designed and fabricated by puzzle maker Wayne Daniel.
It consists of 19 pieces (shown in the picture) that have to be packed into the acrylic cube. There are 3 sets of 6 identical pieces and a unique single piece, which holds the secret to the packing and has a mathematical connection to the title of the puzzle.
