Subtrax

Subtrax - A pegboard challenge.

Subtrax is a one-player pegboard game by Thinkfun. Included are 40 challenges graded from easy to difficult. Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel and played the peg game on the table while waiting for your food? If so, this is much like that game.

Self-contained in a plastic box that closes securely, this is a game that you could take almost anywhere. Measuring 7" x 5", the game pegs and challenge cards are stored inside and the playing board is the top of the box. The object of the game is to set up the pegs on the board according to a challenge card, then use one peg at a time to jump over other pegs until only the orange peg is left.

There are 15 pegs, 14 blue and 1 orange, and the challenges will use anywhere between 7 and all 15 pegs. Challenges will require anywhere between two and 10 moves to solve. Like checkers, you may jump more than one peg in a turn, and the orange peg may also jump the blue pegs. 

There are 40 challenges total and they increase in difficulty as you go. Solutions are printed on the backs of the cards. Cards measure about 2 1/8" x 3 1/8". Here is the first challenge with solution and the last challenge with solution.
 

LEFT: Challenge #1                    RIGHT: Solution

 

LEFT: Challenge #40                      RIGHT: Solution

Object:
Solve all 40 challenge cards by jumping and removing blue pegs until only the orange peg is left.

Set up:
Choose a challenge card and place the colored pegs in the holes on the game board to match.

Play:
Choose a peg and jump another peg (or more). Remove the peg(s) that you jump. Pegs may only jump adjacent pegs in the directions indicated by the lines on the game board. You may only move by jumping another peg and landing in an adjacent open hole. You may not jump over more than one peg at a time or jump over an empty hole. No non-jumping moves allowed. 

Check out other one-person logic games I have blogged about.

Try this:

• Play a few games by following the directions on the solution side of the card to get the feel and idea of how to play.
• Play a game while the individual watches. Talk through your thinking as you play so that they can learn the problem-solving process. Then set the same challenge up again and see if they can play alone.
• Use the orange peg and two or three blue pegs to demonstrate jumping before playing. Set them up so that you can jump them all in one move leaving the orange one left. This may be an easier way to learn about jumping without extra pegs on the board to confuse.
• Use the solution side only of the cards if an individual is not capable of playing. Set the board up as pictured and then follow the directions to complete the challenge. Or just use it as a puzzle to set up.
• Set up a challenge. You make the first move or two to help the individual get stated and see if they can finish it alone.
•  Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations, visualization, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, fine motor skills, planning, logic, problem solving, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Game board/box, 15 pegs, 40 challenge cards
 
If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.

Color Catch

Color Catch - One person logic puzzle, 60 challenges increase in difficuilty.

Color Catch includes 60 fun challenges that feature colorful salamanders, frogs and dragonflies in this one-person logic game. SmartGames give you the opportunity to work on logical deduction and problem solving in short spurts in therapy, while still continuing to up the difficulty over time.

The plastic game board for Color Catch has nine plastic, non-removable squares in blue, red, green and yellow. You can see seven of the squares in the game board above, two of the squares have been covered by a puzzle piece. The animals on the five black, plastic puzzle pieces (four rectangles, 1 square) are transparent. Therefore, the animals will be different colors, depending on which colored square they are placed on top of. There are a total of four dragonflies, 3 salamanders and two frogs.

There are 60 challenges total that fall into the categories of starter (12), junior (16), expert (16) and master (16). The puzzles in the starter section will show you animals and their orientation(s) to help learners get started (image 1 below). Each challenge in the puzzle booklet will show you colors for the five salamanders and frogs. Frogs and salamanders may also show a long tongue and a dragonfly at the end (image 2 below). In this case, a colored dragonfly must be next to that animal, oriented so the animal is facing it. Animals in the challenge that have an X next to them can be placed on the board facing in any direction EXCEPT looking toward a dragonfly. Dragonflies that are not used in the challenge can be placed anywhere on the board, except where a frog or salamander will end up facing them. Solutions are in the back of the book. There is only one solution per puzzle.

IMAGE 1           Left: Puzzle 1.  Right: Solution 1

IMAGE 2            Left: Puzzle 60.  Right: Solution 60.

To play, choose a puzzle from the challenge book. Solve the challenge by placing the pieces on the game base so that the animals and their colors match the puzzle printed in the book.

They call this a travel game, meaning it is portable and small. There is a plastic lid that sits on top of the game board and is tall enough so that you can carry the puzzle book inside. However, the lid does not snap on in any way. You will have to rubber band it if you carry the puzzle without the box.   

If you would like to read more about one-person logic puzzles, check out my post What's in Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzles Edition. 

Try this:

• Orient the board to the solution before starting. The board will be oriented the same way for all puzzles.
• Start by working a few puzzles from the solution booklet. Work back to the puzzle and see how it matches.
• Place all but one piece to a puzzle, let the player place the last piece. Place all but two pieces and allow the player to finish the puzzle. Work your way down until the player can solve the puzzles independently.
• Open the challenge booklet anywhere except the starter section. When you open it you will see a total of four challenges. Set up one of the challenges on the game board (look at the solution to do it fast), then ask the individual which challenge matches the solution. Make it more difficult by setting up the puzzle and then changing the orientation of the board.
• Work the puzzle yourself and talk out loud to model how to problem solve and eliminate pieces. Start sentences with "This can't go here because..." or "This one must go here (or may go here) because..." and then explain the logic. Then take the pieces out and ask the person to complete the same challenge.
• Work on visual discrimination, eye-hand coordination, spatial relations, visualization, manual dexterity, planning, problem solving, logic, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 1 game board with lid, 5 puzzle pieces, 1 challenge/solution booklet

If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below.