COME BACK OF LOGICAL GAMES

by Paulina Sapek, Gimnazjum nr 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu

 The logic and spatial games are coming back into fashion. More and more young people are moving away from the computer and play chess. At our school corridor you can see some students solving Rubik's cube.

This game was constructed over 40 years ago. It is noteworthy, as there are not many toys that last longer than a generation. Rubik, a Hungarian architect, after designing the cube realized that he couldn’t actually solve the puzzle. The cube, made up of nine colour squares on each side, can be rearranged in 43 000 000 000 000 000 000 different ways. After a month Rubik finally figured it out.

             There are a number of speedcubing competitions that take place around the world. The current world champion is Matts Valw from the Netherlands with the result of 5.55 sec to solve the cube. At the beginning of December 2014 the Polish student Marcin Kowalczyk established a new world record in blindfolded solving.

The speed cuber took a few seconds to memorise the pattern on the Rubik’s cube and then, while blindfolded, he needed just a few more to solve it during a competition (the final result is 21,17 sec). A judge held a piece of paper between Marcin's face and his hands to make sure he couldn't peek under his mask.

 

This isn’t the first time Marcin has showed his special talent. In November 2013 Marcin solved 41 Rubik’s cubes in 54 minutes and 14 seconds while blindfolded. He studied all 41 cubes and memorized their patterns before putting on a blindfold and solving each one.

What benefits can you get solving Rubik’s cube? It definitely increases your short-term memory, concentration and makes you more patient person. You don’t have to be speedcuber, but as scientists emphasize, completing puzzles, crosswords and playing board games keeps the mind sharp. It can be very helpful in dealing with different problems in your life.

 

LINKS:
http://hyderabadtalks.com/2013/07/benefits-of-solving-a-rubiks-cube/
http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/regions.php
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10840482/Rubiks-cube-invention-40-years-old-and-never-meant-to-be-a-toy.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2872735/Marcin-Kowalczyk-sets-Rubik-s-cube-world-record-solving-puzzle-21-17-seconds-blindfolded.html