Roll Over Puzzle – Vintage Combinatorial Brain Teaser

Roll Over Puzzle – Vintage Combinatorial Brain Teaser

The Roll Over Puzzle is a rare and challenging brain teaser that puts logic and patience to the test. Start with an open space in the center and all cubes showing either Butterflies or Trees. Roll each cube one at a time into the open space with a quarter-turn, working to reverse all of the pictures from one image to the other. The goal: complete the transformation while ensuring the open space ends up back in the middle.

Invented by John Harris in the early 1970s, this puzzle was first analyzed in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics (Vol. 7, 1974). Harris initially determined a solution could be reached in 38 moves, but later computer analysis—documented by Martin Gardner in his book The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems (2006)—proved the puzzle can be solved in just 36 moves, making it extraordinarily difficult to master.

• Challenging combinatorial puzzle with a rich history
• Invented by John Harris in the 1970s
• First analyzed in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics
• Minimum solution in 36 moves (computer verified)
• A must-have for collectors, puzzle lovers, and fans of Martin Gardner

Whether you’re a serious puzzler, a collector of vintage logic games, or simply looking for a unique mental workout, the Roll Over Puzzle offers a rewarding and historic challenge.