LingAo Magic 8p

LingAo Magic 8p

LingAo Magic 8p is a folding Magic puzzle made of 8 flat tiles. The tiles are connected by plastic strings that let you flip them over one another. The movement is similar to a Jacob's Ladder toy, but it happens in two dimensions. There is no scrambling like with a cube. Every time, you go from the same starting position to the same solved position, so every solve looks exactly the same. What counts is knowing the folding sequence and having fast hands.

Magic at competitions

Magic and its bigger version, Master Magic with 12 tiles, used to be official competition events. The WCA recognized them from its founding in 2004, and as of January 1, 2013 both events were removed. Today Magic is a puzzle for practice and fun rather than for official competitions. It still has its fans among speedcubers, because a solve takes very little time and it's easy to race your friends.

How it performs

The LingAo version has a classic design and folds well straight out of the box. The weak point users mention most often is the strings. If you fold very aggressively or flip the tiles in the wrong direction, the strings can snap or slip off. Some people recommend solving more gently at first to let the strings "settle in". Others have had no problems with them after several thousand solves. A broken string can be replaced, but it takes some patience.

Who is it for?

For cubers who want to try a former WCA event and for collectors of unusual puzzles. It also makes a great gift for a child, because the rules are simple and the results come quickly. If you want something more challenging, go for the 12-tile Master Magic.

Specifications

• Type: Magic puzzle, 8 tiles
• Manufacturer: LingAo
• Unfolded dimensions: approx. 10.6 x 21.2 cm, thickness approx. 0.5 cm
• Weight: approx. 98 g
• Colors: Black, Red
• Official WCA event: no (removed as of 2013)
• In the box: puzzle