Marbles solitaire board

[sunnybob]

Made from offcuts of iroku,2 pieces 15" x7" x3/4" butt jointed (? correct term?)
33 x 1/2" holes, 32 marbles.

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[Stick486]

nice work Bob... how is the game played...

[sunnybob]

Stick, although not a common game nowadays, I've played it since I was a young lad in the 50's. Its the oldest known form of solitaire, recorded in the 1600's.
33 holes, 32 marbles. start with the centre hole empty. move any marble by jumping another, just like checkers. Remove the jumped marble to the outer ring for storage.
You can move any marble in any direction, as long as there is an empty space to jump to.
To win the game you need to finish with just one marble in the centre hole. Its very difficult and requires a lot of logic to win.
Its a great conversation piece, and most people will have a go if its put out at a family gathering.

Of course, sadly, nowadays you can just look up the answer on utube.

[Stick486]

thanks...
I never played the game....
again.. nice work...

[DaninVan]

Thanks, Bob; I remember playing that! You just gave me an idea for our annual Guild 'Toys and Gifts' donation program.

[sunnybob]

Sometime around 1960, I had one, and was given a sheet of paper with a diagram showing the moves needed. I learnt the moves by heart (which kind of took the fun away because I just did it every time) The following year I went to a local school fete (big school, stalls all over the convent grounds). There was a marble solitaire game on a stall, offering a money prize if anyone could complete it after paying the small fee. The man was telling everyone it was so difficult. Of course, I paid the small fee, whipped through it in about 30 seconds flat and got the money prize.The man was astonished, he said he had thought it was impossible. I said "can I have another go, maybe that was a fluke". he said "bugger off".

[sunnybob]

Thanks, Bob; I remember playing that! You just gave me an idea for our annual Guild 'Toys and Gifts' donation program.

Dan, I've made a few of these for a christmas craft market I am going to in november. Dont know if they will sell or not, but I'm using up scrap ends of hardwood planks so cost to me is minimal. I have iroku, white oak, bubinga and padauk to use up, so about 6 boards in total.
I made several practice goes to get the spacing right.
I found 30 mm between centres to be perfect for 14 mm marbles. Any closer and your fingers knock other marbles out when gripping the moving one.
I used a 16 mm ball router bit and made the holes 6mm deep, and the outer ring 12 mm deep.

[Herb Stoops]

That is top notch as always. How much do they go for? Do you include instructions with them? is it strictly solitaire,or can more than one player play at a time?
Herb

[old55]

Nicely done Bob.

[sunnybob]

That is top notch as always. How much do they go for? Do you include instructions with them? is it strictly solitaire,or can more than one player play at a time?
Herb

Herb, I will be pricing them at 45 euro (usd 50) but havent sold one in years so I might have to reduce that. I dont usually "do" markets, but this one is very close to me, under a mile, so i have no outlay involved. I have one reject board where the holes are very wonky and will have that on hand to show. its so simple that it only takes a few seconds. I wont be giving a cheat sheet because theres no fun in it if you have the answer, and as I said, its available on utube if you get really desperate.
It's designed as a solo game ,but could be played as a team game, against the clock. Or, as a contest to see who can finish with the least marbles on the board. It really is very difficult without having the answer, 3 to 5 marbles left is usual, but I have seen ONE marble left, but in the wrong hole. That was really frustrating for him.

[sunnybob]

Nicely done Bob.

Thanks.