PUZZLE TECHNIQUES

TENTS AND TREES STRATEGY AND TIPS

First learn our techniques to solve these puzzles. Then you can try our online Tents and Trees puzzles.

We will learn techniques with an example to solve a Tents and Trees puzzle.

The most important strategy is to follow logical thinking steps!

1. ROWS AND/OR COLUMNS WITH DIGIT 0

Study the puzzle carefully and look for rows and/or columns with number 0. These do NOT contain a tent. We can now place a cross in all the cells of those rows and/or columns

2. CELLS TOO FAR AWAY FROM A TREE

Cells that are too far away from a tree should not contain a tent. These boxes now also get a cross.

3. CELLS CONNECTED DIAGONALLY WITH A TREE

Some cells are only diagonally connected to a tree. You can also provide these with a cross. Cells that are diagonally, but also horizontally or vertically connected to a tree are not eligible and you may NOT give them a cross for the time being.

4. AS MANY FREE CELLS AS THE DIGIT

Time to find out if we can already place a tent somewhere. In rows and/or columns where the number corresponds to the number of free cells, you may place a tent in all those free cells.

In our example it is about rows 1, 3 and 5. Column 5 is therefore also complete.

5. CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TENTS

We now focus on one of the main rules: a tent may not be connected diagonally, horizontally or visually to another tent. These cells now get a cross.

6. START OVER WITH RULE 4

In rule 4 we looked for rows and / or columns where the number corresponded to the number of free cells. We're going to re-examine the puzzle with that rule in mind. Where possible we can place a tent.

Sometimes you have to keep repeating a number of rules to completely solve the puzzle. Especially alternating techniques where you place crosses with methods where you can place tents.

7. ONE ROW OR COLUMN IS COMPLETE

If a row or column contains the number of tents required and there are still free cells, they will be marked with a cross.

In our example, column 4 is complete. The two free cells therefore get a cross.

8. A TREE HAS ONLY 1 FREE CELL FOR A TENT

Look at trees that are enclosed. If there is a tree with only one free horizontal or vertical side, then that should be the place to put a tent for that tree.

Look at the 1st tree in row 3 of our example. There is one free place to put a tent in next to that tree, namely just behind it.

9. EXCLUDING A CELL AS A PLACE FOR A TENT

Sometimes a tree has several options for placing a tent, but all the options make it impossible for a particular cell to contain a tent and so we can place a cross there.

The tree at the bottom left has only 2 free places for a tent. We put a question mark there. As a result, we find a cell where certainly no tent can be.