Other Puzzles
There are many more types of puzzles! These last two you will often run across on HOL. They can be really challenging, so stay calm and take them one square at a time!
Nonogram/Pictogram
Nonograms/pictograms are Japanese crossword puzzles. They utilize grids to make a picture. The rows and columns tell you how many of the grid cells are filled in to make a picture. The numbers in the rows and columns tell you how many cells in that row/column are colored in. For rows with more than one number, pay extra attention. There must be at least one empty square between sets of the same color. In the first above example, the sixth row down from the top has a 5 and 2. That means that first there are 5 squares in a row colored in, at least one empty space, and then two colored squares in a row. Important notes:
How to solve: The first thing to do is decide to start with the rows or the columns, i like to start with the columns. If there are any rows/columns where there are 0 numbers, or the numbers are equal to the full length of the row/column (this includes rows/columns with clues that add up to the full length including leaving the space blank between colors of the same number) you can fill those in first. If your clue is larger than half the available space see how far it could reach from either end. You know that the squares that overlap must be filled in. Now look across the top numbers in the columns. If there are any colors that do not appear in the first row, you know that the column will not start there and you can mark it off as a blank square. Do the same with the last row/column.
If you filled in any squares on the edges, you can now fill them out to fulfill the number (i.e. if you filled in the first square in the third column and the top number of the third column is 8, you can filled in 7 boxes below the one you filled in first). From there, check to see which ones you've already filled in that match. Say in row 5/column 6 you filled in a green square, and column 6 says you have 4 green squares, but there are no green squares in row 4, you know that the 4 green squares all go down and can fill 3 squares below the one you filled in.
As you fill in more squares, keep going back between the columns and rows to fill in even more! Once you're stuck, use a pencil to place to dots where filled in squares might possibly go. Remember, its going to form a picture, so dots in the middle of nowhere probably aren't correct (unless of course its a snowman scene!)
Where to practice:
How to make: Start with an empty grid. Color in all the squares to form a picture. Starting with the top row on the left, write out how many colored in squares there are. Remember to write the number in the color of the square so people will know what the color is. Then, Starting with the left, do the same with the columns. Finally, clear out the squares in the grid and have a friend test it out!
- the empty square rule does not affect different colors in colored nonograms! You can have a green square right next to a red square, like in the second example above.
- while the numbers are in the order they will appear on the grid, it does not necessarily start on the edges of the grid!
- not every square will be filled
How to solve: The first thing to do is decide to start with the rows or the columns, i like to start with the columns. If there are any rows/columns where there are 0 numbers, or the numbers are equal to the full length of the row/column (this includes rows/columns with clues that add up to the full length including leaving the space blank between colors of the same number) you can fill those in first. If your clue is larger than half the available space see how far it could reach from either end. You know that the squares that overlap must be filled in. Now look across the top numbers in the columns. If there are any colors that do not appear in the first row, you know that the column will not start there and you can mark it off as a blank square. Do the same with the last row/column.
If you filled in any squares on the edges, you can now fill them out to fulfill the number (i.e. if you filled in the first square in the third column and the top number of the third column is 8, you can filled in 7 boxes below the one you filled in first). From there, check to see which ones you've already filled in that match. Say in row 5/column 6 you filled in a green square, and column 6 says you have 4 green squares, but there are no green squares in row 4, you know that the 4 green squares all go down and can fill 3 squares below the one you filled in.
As you fill in more squares, keep going back between the columns and rows to fill in even more! Once you're stuck, use a pencil to place to dots where filled in squares might possibly go. Remember, its going to form a picture, so dots in the middle of nowhere probably aren't correct (unless of course its a snowman scene!)
Where to practice:
How to make: Start with an empty grid. Color in all the squares to form a picture. Starting with the top row on the left, write out how many colored in squares there are. Remember to write the number in the color of the square so people will know what the color is. Then, Starting with the left, do the same with the columns. Finally, clear out the squares in the grid and have a friend test it out!
Tents and Trees
Much like nonograms, Tents and Trees utilizes a grid with numbers on the outside of it as clues. The object is to figure out where the tents go. This may appear in many ways, guests at a tea party being placed next to tea cups, bees next to flowers, etc. The rules:
How to solve: First, start with the spaces not attached to any trees (include the spaces only diagonally attached to a tree). Mark these off with X's so you know no tents can go in those spaces. Then X out all the rows/columns with "0 tents". Now start placing tents with the trees that have a row or column with 0 tents next to it. Since you know a tent can't go in that row or column, it limits where the tent can with that tree. Like in the above example, the tree in the bottom left corner has a "0 tent" in the row above, so the only open spot is to the right of it. Next, look for rows/columns with high numbers. If a row has 5 tents and only 5 spaces not X'd out, you know that tents go in those spaces. As you work, you may find you need to adjust a tent's position based on other tents. Keep doing this until all of the tents have been placed!
Where to practice: Tents and Trees
How to make: Start with a grid and fill in your tents and trees. Make sure that none of your tents are touching sides, tops, bottoms or diagonals! Then, on the outside of a grid write the number of all the tents in that row/column. One last time, send it to a friend to try it out!
- Each tent is connected to one tree. Although it may be touching other trees, it only goes with one so the other trees attached to it must have their own tents.
- Each tent can only be connected to a tree on the sides, top or bottom; not diagonally.
- Tents cannot touch each other on either side, top, bottom, OR DIAGONALLY.
- The numbers on the outside of the grid tell you how many tents are in that row/column
How to solve: First, start with the spaces not attached to any trees (include the spaces only diagonally attached to a tree). Mark these off with X's so you know no tents can go in those spaces. Then X out all the rows/columns with "0 tents". Now start placing tents with the trees that have a row or column with 0 tents next to it. Since you know a tent can't go in that row or column, it limits where the tent can with that tree. Like in the above example, the tree in the bottom left corner has a "0 tent" in the row above, so the only open spot is to the right of it. Next, look for rows/columns with high numbers. If a row has 5 tents and only 5 spaces not X'd out, you know that tents go in those spaces. As you work, you may find you need to adjust a tent's position based on other tents. Keep doing this until all of the tents have been placed!
Where to practice: Tents and Trees
How to make: Start with a grid and fill in your tents and trees. Make sure that none of your tents are touching sides, tops, bottoms or diagonals! Then, on the outside of a grid write the number of all the tents in that row/column. One last time, send it to a friend to try it out!
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