How to open a Shashibo: finding the two corners

The rule: 2 of 8

Straight from the official instructions: a Shashibo can only be opened on 2 of its 8 corners. The other six are held shut by the way the 12 hinged pieces sit in their ring. That is why pulling hard on a random corner gets you nowhere, and why a gentle search gets you everywhere.

Opening it

1. Hold the cube in both hands with your thumbs near one corner.
2. Apply a light, even pull at that corner — no twisting.
3. No give? Turn the cube and move to the next corner. Repeat until one starts to separate.
4. When a corner gives, gently pull it open like a pistachio shell.
5. Let the pieces settle until the magnets connect. You have just made the Crown.

A pistachio, not a walnut

The brand's comparison is worth taking literally. A pistachio opens along a seam that is already there; you just help it along. A walnut needs a cracker. If you feel like you need a cracker, you are on the wrong corner.

Quick fixes

• Stiff cube? Test each corner once with light pressure before trying any corner harder.
• Opened the wrong way? Press it back until the magnets click and the outer pattern lines up, then try again.
• Lost track of which corners you tried? Hold the cube with the same face toward you and work around it in order.

Before you start

Shashibo is for ages 8 and up. It contains 36 strong magnets: keep it away from electronic devices, and people with pacemakers are advised not to play with it. It also has small parts, so it is not for children under 3.

Once a corner opens, the next move is waiting: open the Crown's closed corner and you have a Star.