One of the strings on my magic broke. It was the one that was always catching my thumb. Once it was off, then the magic didn't catch my thumb anymore. The magic felt a little more flimsy, but I'm wondering if I could get used to it. I plan on fixing it anyways, but it got me thinking. 1) What constitutes a "new move" in 3i? Is the fact that my thumb doesn't need to be repositioned matter? 2) Should Magics be verified? Is there some stringing pattern out there that could result in a shorter solution, but it would be difficult to know that.

Hi Bryan, Thanks for your feedback. [quote:2fa5bdde]1) What constitutes a "new move" in 3i? Is the fact that my thumb doesn't need to be repositioned matter? [/quote:2fa5bdde] This was intentionally chosen very broadly. We do not want to limit our definitions and then find out someone found a way around the definitions. To answer your question: - if your way of solving is different after your modification, for example because you can take a shortcut, then this is indeed a new move. [quote:2fa5bdde]2) Should Magics be verified? Is there some stringing pattern out there that could result in a shorter solution, but it would be difficult to know that.[/quote:2fa5bdde] Yes, Magics should be verified, although this is a difficult task. If I am a judge and I think the Magic looks strange (and I have seen some very strange ones...), then I always solve it myself first, to at least see if the normal solution works. Sometimes I check whether there are double wires on all pieces. I always check whether the competitor solves the Magic in a familiar way. Although competitors are now so fast, that it is hard to see at all. Thanks, Ron

[quote="Ron":2pumwa5e] To answer your question: - if your way of solving is different after your modification, for example because you can take a shortcut, then this is indeed a new move. [/quote:2pumwa5e] The only difference is where I can place my thumb. All the flips are the same. So is that considered a new move? [quote="Ron":2pumwa5e] Sometimes I check whether there are double wires on all pieces. [/quote:2pumwa5e] So am I required to replace that missing string before competition? I didn't make up a new stringing pattern, one of my strings just broke.

[quote="Ron":1jyy52vz] If I am a judge and I think the Magic looks strange (and I have seen some very strange ones...), then I always solve it myself first, to at least see if the normal solution works.[/quote:1jyy52vz] I am included in there? @Bryan, you aren't doing different moves at all, you just place your thumb in a different place. Not everyone holds the magic the same way, so you are okay. If I remember rightly, the Magic I used at Belgium had 2/3 strings missing.

[quote="Ron":18eu6xz0] Sometimes I check whether there are double wires on all pieces.[/quote:18eu6xz0] There must be, or shold be double wires on all pieces? Or you can compete with a Magic with missing stings? Because if I use only 8 strings (or some more 10-12) out of 16 it is still works in the same way, but it is far more easier to twist it!