Jaap's Puzzle Page

Kinato

Kinato in box Kinato unsolved

The Kinato puzzle consists of a chain of 16 equilateral triangles connected at their corners. The triangles come in two colours, 6 of one colour, 10 of the other. The aim is to put the pieces in the shape of a large size 4 triangle, so that the colours form a kind of checkerboard pattern or any of the other 29 patterns shown in the booklet.
The connections between the triangles allow very free movement, allowing a triangle to be turned over and placed in any position as long as the connected corners are adjacent. Note however that the chain cannot cross itself (as it would no longer lie flat).

The diagram below shows the arrangement of the colours on the chain of triangles. If they are numbered from 1 to 16, then the triangles with numbers 1, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16 are of one colour, the rest of the other colour.

If your browser supports JavaScript, then you can play Kinato by clicking the link below:

Javascript Kinato

Below are the 30 puzzles that are given in the instruction booklet. It is often remarkably tricky to solve these patterns.


Flower

Letter M

The Priest

Two Smiling Goats

Kite

Diamonds Forever

Twin Towers

The Face

Twin Peak

The Bridge

Fish

Dolly

Medal

Number 2

Pac-man

Letter C

Apple

Three Swordsmen

Windmill

Earthworm

Hourglass

Dart

Mushroom

Letter J

Letter A

Boat

Letter L

Three Arrows

Sumo Wrestler

Cute Cat

Kinato was patented on 18 July 2002, WO 02/055169.

Solutions:

Here are solutions to the 30 problems from the instruction booklet. These solutions are not always unique.


Flower

Letter M

The Priest

Two Smiling Goats

Kite

Diamonds Forever

Twin Towers

The Face

Twin Peak

The Bridge

Fish

Dolly

Medal

Number 2

Pac-man

Letter C

Apple

Three Swordsmen

Windmill

Earthworm

Hourglass

Dart

Mushroom

Letter J

Letter A

Boat

Letter L

Three Arrows

Sumo Wrestler

Cute Cat