Chain Store Puzzle | Pack Chain in Box

Pack a Chain Flush in the Box

Chain Store is a packing puzzle designed by Goh Pit Khiam. Your goal is simple to state: take a chain of five identical linked pieces and pack it flush into the box. No hidden mechanisms, no trick releases, no shortcuts.

Well - it sounds straightforward. But the chain changes everything.

Because the pieces are linked together and cannot be separated, you can't just place them one at a time. Move one link and you move the whole chain. Try to fold it one way and the geometry fights you. Every adjustment you make to fit one section creates a new problem somewhere else. The chain's limits are real - and figuring out exactly how to work within them is where the puzzle lives.

Pure spatial reasoning. No luck involved.

Quick Summary

• Type: Packing puzzle
• Designer: Goh Pit Khiam
• Pieces: One chain of five identical linked pieces plus box
• Goal: Pack the chain flush inside the box
• Difficulty: Harder than it looks
• Box size: 55mm x 65mm x 75mm
• Disassembly: Chain cannot be taken apart

Best For

• Solvers who love finding the missing link in a puzzle
• Chain-of-logic thinkers who prefer geometry over gimmicks
• The person who says "I can figure this out" and then discovers they cannot
• Puzzlers who like their brain teasers linked, locked, and layered
• Anyone drawn to constrained packing problems where the constraint is built into the object itself
• A clean desk gift for the engineer or designer who thinks spatially

How It Works

The five pieces are identical in shape and permanently linked in sequence - like a physical chain. The box is sized to fit them exactly when packed correctly. There is one solution. The challenge is that you cannot manipulate the pieces independently. The chain bends, but only so much. It folds, but only in certain ways. You have to find the configuration that respects every link at once.

There are no tricks. The puzzle is entirely about understanding the geometry of the chain and the volume of the box. When it clicks, it clicks cleanly - and you will know immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the chain be taken apart?

No. The five links are permanently connected. The puzzle is solved with the chain intact.

Is there more than one solution?

No. There is one correct configuration that packs the chain flush into the box.

How difficult is it?

More difficult than the premise suggests. The constraint of the linked pieces makes spatial trial-and-error much harder than a standard loose-piece packing puzzle. Expect a real challenge.

Who designed Chain Store?

Chain Store was designed by Goh Pit Khiam, a puzzle designer known for elegant packing and interlocking designs.

What is the box size?

The box measures 55mm x 65mm x 75mm.