Object: re-create the given knots with loose ends, play with knots.
 
Knots II allows you to

• play with one rope or several ropes
• use ropes which have two loose ends or ropes with ends joined
• mix types (have one closed string and a second string with loose ends).
• join any two loose ends at any time.
• cut the rope (variant 'Freeplay 3' only, more details below!)
• learn about the background and usage of classic knots. (see menu item help/game description in variants with knots which have names).

Unlike in game 'Knots', the game Knots II has been designed for a thick ROPE rather than a thin string. This allows the knots to look more realistic because there is no gap between adjacent parallel rope parts. On the other hand, to keep the rope bends fully visible, no 'double bends' exist in this game. Each tile shows either a straight or a bend, never two bends.
 
There are many ways to manipulate the elastic rope. Part of the game is to find out what these are. These manipulations all simulate the natural behaviour of a real rope; e.g., you cannot break it by moving it around, only lengthen, shorten and shape it. Most manipulations are more or less straight forward. No help texts are given; explore!
 
We will only describe the least obvious manipulations here:

1. When a top-layer part A of the string crosses a straight piece B of string twice (twice on top or twice on the bottom), you can move one of the two intersections P and Q onto the other (where P, A, Q, B are ordered clockwise). This will cause parts A and B to swap layers at those intersections: If A was on top of B before, it will run underneath it afterwards and vice versa. Both manipulations are only admissible when all crossings that lie between P and Q are ones which run UNDERNEATH line B).
   Two similar manipulations are available if part A lies at the lowest level.
2. To pass a loose rope end underneath an orthogonal line, move the end onto the line. The end will automatically be lengthened towards the next free position. If you overshot or if there are several lines crossing, and you want to pass under all of them, you can move the loose end back to the intersection which you want to pass under.

You win when the knots on both boards have the same shape and position. This game is very well suited to just play around with strings and to explore. (The topic of knots and their classificaton is quite an interesting one, both in sailing and in mathematics).
 
Please note that there are SEVEN alternative piece sets available, with very different graphic effects. Try them out!
 
The variants are lumped into four groups:

• 'Open Knots' - knots containing at least one string with loose ends
• 'Unknotted Loops' - knots which can be shaped from a simple O-ring.
• 'Knotted Loops' - knots made from a closed string which cannot be turned into a simple O-ring.
• 'Multiple Loops' - knots made from multiple loops
• 'Freeplay' - Use a larger board; here you do not have to solve a puzzle, just play freely with the rope. The freeplay variants sometimes cause a 'too many moves generated' message. In these cases try to keep your string in a smaller area at first.
  Variant 'Freeplay 1': one piece of string given.
  Variant 'Freeplay 2': two pieces of string given.
  Variant 'Freeplay 3 (easy)': This is the most luxurious variant of Knots II. It is designed to create and manipulate knots very fast. Some features available in this variant are withheld from all other variants to make the puzzles more challenging.
  Extra features in Freeplay 3:
  • You can cut the string into any number of pieces (move straight onto adjacent straight).
  • You can turn upside a (top-layer or bottom-layer) self-intersecting string part simply by clicking the intersection.

This game works best with SMART MOVES turned OFF!
 
Associated literature:

• 'Knots' by Kenneth S. Burton jr.
• 'Knots' by Peter Owen
• 'Knots and Ropework' by Eric C. Fry
• 'Mathematics, Magic and Mystery' by Martin Gardner

More freeware as well as real puzzles and games at my homepage http://karl.kiwi.gen.nz.