MoYu Hanoi Tower 10 Layers

MoYu Hanoi Tower 10 Layers

A classic Tower of Hanoi from MoYu with ten layers to move. The MoYu Hanoi Tower 10 Layers is not a speedcubing cube but a logic puzzle. Here TPS doesn't matter; planning and consistency do. The puzzle is white and compact, measuring about 6 cm in each dimension.

Tower of Hanoi rules

You need to move the whole stack from the starting position to the target position, using the third position as an auxiliary one. Two rules apply:

• you move only one piece per move,
• you never place a larger piece on top of a smaller one.

The rules are simple, but with ten layers it's hard to solve the tower by feel. Once you understand the pattern, the puzzle stops being random shuffling of pieces and becomes an exercise in patience and precision.

1023 moves, or why 10 layers is a challenge

The shortest solution of the Tower of Hanoi takes 2ⁿ − 1 moves, where n is the number of layers. So each new layer doubles the length of the solution. Three layers can be moved in 7 moves, eight in 255, and ten require at least 1023 moves. A single mistake in the middle can set you back by dozens of steps.

A few tips to get you started:

• Recursion is the key: to move 10 layers, you first move the top 9 to the auxiliary position, then the largest piece to the target position, and finally the 9 layers back on top of it.
• In the optimal solution, the smallest piece moves every other move and always travels in the same direction.
• With an even number of layers, including ten, your first move with the smallest piece goes to the auxiliary position, not the target one.

Who is it for?

For cubers who want a break from twisty puzzles and something on their desk that calls for a different kind of thinking than algorithms. It's also great for anyone who enjoys logic puzzles, for learning to plan ahead, and for demonstrating live how recursion works. At first, it's a good idea to move just a few of the smallest layers and add more once the pattern becomes clear. The full set of ten layers will keep you busy for quite a while.

Specifications

• Type: logic puzzle, Tower of Hanoi
• Manufacturer: MoYu
• Number of layers: 10
• Minimum number of moves: 1023
• Dimensions: approx. 63 x 61.6 x 61 mm
• Colour: white