The Knot is a small wooden burr puzzle in Professor Puzzle’s Matchbox Puzzle series, from the British puzzle brand. It is made up of six long pieces that cross and hold one another in a compact knot, with no glue or hidden joints. The challenge is to separate the pieces and, above all, to manage to rebuild the knot afterwards.

• BrandProfessor Puzzle
• SeriesMatchbox Puzzle
• TypeSix-piece burr puzzle
• MaterialWood
• Pieces6
• Box7 × 4.7 × 2.2 cm

How it works

A burr is a puzzle of interlocking wooden pieces that lock one another in place, so the whole thing holds firm through its own geometry. Six-piece burrs are the most classic form of this family, with centuries of history in the wooden puzzle tradition. Taking it apart is the quick part; putting it back together calls for close attention to how the pieces sit and in what order.

In this version the size has been reduced to fit in a matchbox, so handle the pieces with care so as not to lose them.

What’s included

The six pieces are kept in the series’ matchbox-style box. Nine more matchstick challenges are printed on the sides.