There are many mathematical diversions that appear magical.
Some involve “topology”, such as the Trapdoor Card, the Impossible Card and the Afghan Bands or Mobius Strips. Many involve “geometrical vanishes” (or “appearances” if you do the reverse). The most popular are the moving tiles puzzles such as the Winston Freer tiles. Other versions have people vanishing or one object transforming into another object.
“The Strategist” is an interesting version of the Winston Freer tile puzzle. It is a square, measuring 7 units by 7 units, instead of the usual rectangle measuring 9 units by 7 units. The “vanish” or “appearance” of the tiles is accomplished by a unique method. It is created by Chinese magician Elong and manufactured by Wonder House.
In effect, the performer shows a wooden tray that contains 7 X 7 square tiles. The total of 49 tiles fit in very snugly into the square wooden tray. The tiles are dumped out of the tray and it is seen that there are 7 segments of the tiles.
From a small round wooden box, 2 square tiles are dumped out.
The first square tile is added in to the 7 segments of the wooden tiles. When the total of 8 tiles are re-arranged, it is seen that the 50 tiles still form a square of 7 X 7 tiles, the additional tile has seemingly vanished.
The second additional tile is added and all the tiles are re-arranged. Again, this second tile seems to be assimilated into the 7 X 7 tiles.
All the pieces are then re-assembled back inside the original tray. The audience would assume that the tiles would fit snugly onto the tray despite the additional 2 extra tiles. Instead, a surprise awaits everyone – there is now an empty space for one more tile!
The spectator can herself open the small round box. Mysteriously, it now contains an extra tile, but it is not made of wood – it is a transparent tile! The double climaxes truly seal this as a mysterious piece of magic!
You receive everything required to perform the effect, plus more – you are given an extra wooden tile, and 2 separate velvet pouches, one to contain the small round box, and the other to keep the entire wooden tray and tiles. You are also given a link to a video tutorial and a pdf manual – this pdf is important to help you to remember the sequence of how to re-assemble the tiles each time an extra tile is added.
The entire effect is self-working, you only need to remember how to re-assemble the tiles each time an extra tile is added in. This is all due to an ingenious method of constructing the tiles. The tiles are precision crafted and every set is hand-made.
The entire set of props speak of elegance. The main props are made of wood instead of plastics. The outlines of the tiles are engraved onto the wooden pieces, unlike the economical versions where the outlines of the tiles are printed onto the various pieces, or printed on stickers which are then stuck onto the various pieces.
The tiles are stained a darker brown in comparison to the wooden tray and the round box. The 2 velvet pouches are reddish brown in colour. The different shades of brown and the velvet pouches give elegance to your props and performance.
The 7 x 7 tiles, when assembled, measures approximately 6 inches X 6 inches. This is not too small, nor too large, for performance using a table.
The usual method of performing this type of moving tiles puzzle requires that the pieces first fit loosely into the tray, and after adding in the extra tiles, to fit in more snugly into the box. “The Strategist” allows the audience to examine that all the pieces originally fit very snugly into the tray. Afterwards, when the extra 2 pieces of tiles are added in, they not only fit in snugly into the original tray, there is room for one more piece of tile!
The small round box acts like a change box. It originally contains 2 tiles. Later on, an extra transparent tile appears inside the box.
Check out the product trailer. It features Magician Elong performing “The Strategist” to an interesting poetic recital in the Mandarin language about life.
The entire effect can be performed in reverse. First, you show that 7 x 7 tiles (a total of 49 tiles) fit nicely in a wooden tray. The pieces are taken out of the tray, and one by one, 3 pieces of the tiles are taken away. Yet, when the left-over tiles are put back into the tray, they still measure 7 x 7 or 49 tiles! This is the reason for the supply of one more wooden tile. If you perform this reverse version, it is inappropriate to use the transparent tile.
The price is considered more than reasonable for such an elegant set of props that you will enjoy performing and own. (Rated 5/5 stars)
