Instructions for solving Japanese crossword puzzles. Contacts. Specialty Software Engineering

In a Japanese crossword puzzle, the picture is encrypted using numbers located to the left and top of the grid. Each number indicates how many cells in a row need to be painted over in this row or column. Consider a specific example of solving a Japanese crossword puzzle:

First you need to find the most big numbers, which is more than half the length of the row or column in which this digit is located. In this example, these are 8 and 10 (the first and second row) and 7 (the second and ninth columns). The second line is filled in completely, since the number 10 corresponds to the length of the line. For convenience, you can mark this line as guessed, for this, click on the number 10, and it will turn gray. The first line contains the number 8, which means that in any case, 6 cells in the center of the line will be painted over. This statement is verified as follows: suppose that 8 cells are located at the beginning of the line, then 2 unfilled cells remain at the end of the line, and now suppose that these 8 cells are located at the end of the line, then the first 2 cells will remain unfilled. So, leaving 2 unpainted cells at the beginning and end of the line, we take into account both cases, and boldly paint over the remaining cells. We do the same with the second and ninth columns, only here we know that the second cell is shaded. i5; therefore, at the bottom of the column we leave 3 cells unpainted, and at the top we paint over all the cells up to the already known second cell. Now we mark the last two cells in the second and ninth columns with crosses, since they cannot be painted over. See for yourself, 6 cells out of 7 are shaded, so the remaining cell will be either at the beginning or at the end of these 6 shaded cells.

Now paint over the cells in 3-8 columns. The first cells are painted in them, which means that it remains only to paint the remaining cells, in accordance with the highest number, and put a cross at the end, as shown in the figure below.

In the third and fourth lines, everything is clear, we paint over the first and last cells. In the first and ninth columns, we cross out the 5 lower cells with crosses, since there cannot be filled cells there. In the sixth and seventh lines, it remains only to limit the second and ninth cells with crosses. In the tenth line, we paint over 2 central cells, and limit them from above with crosses.

Let's pay attention to the third and eighth columns. It remains to paint over a block of two cells in them, so we mark the fifth cells with a cross. Then in the fifth line we paint over the first and last cells. Now let's look at the first and last columns, they have blocks of four filled cells, so we cross out the first cells in these columns. In the first line, paint over the remaining cells. In the second and ninth columns, blocks of seven filled cells were formed, so we put crosses in the remaining cells.

In the third and eighth columns, we paint over the ninth cells. Then in the ninth line we got two blocks of one cell, which means we mark the remaining cells with crosses. In the eighth line, there is only one option for the location of the blocks, so we just paint over them in order. The third and eighth columns are solved, so we put crosses in the last cells. And now in the last 77th line there is nothing else left but to paint over the remaining cells. In the fifth and sixth columns we paint over the fifth cells. Then the fifth line will be solved completely.

real Japanese crosswords must comply with the following rules:

• The crossword has a single logical solution;
• There are no zeros in the information fields;
• The crossword grid has only a multiple of five cells horizontally and vertically (for example: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ..);
• The image is not symmetrical and contains an easily readable image.

Solving black and white crossword puzzles

How to solve Japanese crossword puzzles?

Two simple rules for successfully solving a Japanese crossword puzzle:

• The order of the numbers is from bottom to top and left to right. That is, if the column contains the number 3, and above it 1, then this means that you need to paint (somewhere) from below 3 cells, and above them 1 cell in this column. The same applies to strings.
• There must be at least one unshaded cell between the shaded cells.

At the first stage, we look for those rows and columns in which the number of cells to be painted will be maximum. The next step will be to identify those rows and columns where the number of cells to be filled will be more than half of the entire column or row.

In these rows or columns we will find those cells that will be painted in any case, regardless of which side the field to be painted starts from. After that, it is already possible to determine those cells that will definitely not be painted over. They must be marked with some kind of icon, for example, a cross or a dot. Then logical reasoning comes into play, with the help of which we bring the solution of the crossword puzzle to the end. In the process of solving a crossword puzzle, the described moves can be repeated several times.

As soon as any cells are painted over, the number that refers to these cells must be crossed out so as not to get confused (especially on huge crossword puzzles).

An example of solving a small crossword puzzle:

As a result of solving a crossword puzzle, an image of the letter "A" was obtained. This is a simple crossword puzzle, but there are huge crossword puzzles that require a lot of practice to successfully complete.

Solving color crosswords

This article has been about how to solve Japanese crossword puzzles.

Japanese crosswords

A Japanese crossword is a puzzle in which some image is encrypted using numbers. The goal of the puzzle is to completely restore this image.

Japanese crosswords are divided into two types - black and white and color. AT black and white crosswords the image contains only two colors - black (with which we draw) and white (background color). In color crosswords, the image is created in several colors on a white background.

The field of the Japanese crossword puzzle is lined with horizontal and vertical lines of different thicknesses. The thickest lines separate the central part (field for the picture) from the numbers. With thinner lines, the field is divided into groups of 5 cells (both horizontally and vertically) - this is done solely for convenience (it is more convenient to calculate the width / height of cell groups). The image itself in the Japanese crossword puzzle is formed by painting individual cells (the central part) in the desired color. An unshaded cell is considered white.

The numbers indicated on the left and on top of the crossword puzzle describe groups of filled cells (going in a row, without gaps) horizontally and vertically, respectively. Moreover, the order of these numbers describes the order in which these groups are located, but where each group begins and ends is not known (in fact, determining their position is the task of the puzzle). Each individual digit denotes a separate group of a given size (i.e., the number 5 denotes a group of five cells filled in a row, 1 is a group of one single shaded cell). In black and white crossword puzzles, we always paint over the cell with black, in color - we paint over the cell with the color that marks the number. Between groups of the same color there must be at least one unshaded cell (just otherwise they would be considered one group), between groups of different colors there may not be empty cells.

How to solve Japanese crosswords

The solution of color and black-and-white crosswords is slightly different (because in black-and-white crosswords you do not need to take into account the color of the cells, the rules are slightly simplified) - that's why for now we'll talk exclusively about black-and-white crosswords.

When solving Japanese crossword puzzles, a person considers each row / column separately, constantly moving on to the next columns and rows. In this case, the solution process in each row/column is reduced to:

1. Determining the cells that will definitely be painted over (for any possible arrangement of groups) - we paint over them.
2. Determination of cells in which the presence of filled cells is impossible - such cells are crossed out with a cross (sometimes a bold dot is used instead of a cross).
3. Identification of digits whose position has already been calculated - usually these digits are crossed out.

Thus, marks gradually appear on the field, which at the next step help to calculate new marks, then another and another, until the crossword puzzle is completely solved (it is worth noting that if at least one mark was made erroneously, this can lead to to a dead end solution).

Solution example

So, let's try to solve the simplest black and white crossword puzzle:

	Before us is the simplest crossword puzzle with a size of 9x9 cells. We will gradually solve this crossword puzzle, explaining each step. So that you do not get confused, we will mark new notes in blue.
	First, let's see if there are lines in the crossword puzzle that should be completely filled in. It turns out that there is - in our case it is the number 9 in the fourth line. Because the width of the crossword puzzle is exactly 9 cells, which means that all cells in this line must be filled in. At the same time, we cross out the very number 9 so that it does not distract us.
	By analogy, we are looking for columns that should be completely filled in.
	Let's look at the third line. Let's remember little rule, which will help us a lot - if there is only one number next to a row or column and is more than half the length, then you can paint over several cells in the middle. In our case, these are the central five cells. Why? No matter how you place a group of seven cells in nine cells, the five central ones will always be shaded. (to calculate this, you can subtract the value of the number from the width of the crossword puzzle - we get the number 2, which means the number of "unknown" cells on the left and right, and paint over the remaining five central five cells).
	Now we can mark with crosses (or dots) cells that definitely cannot be painted over. Let's take a look at the first line - it is completely guessed, because we already have one shaded cell, and there should not be more shaded cells in it. So, all other cells are marked with crosses. Similarly in the sixth and seventh lines. Do not forget to cross out the numbers in the unraveled lines.
	In the fifth line, we have one filled cell, and since in this line, apart from single cells, there is nothing else, we can mark the cells to the left / right of the solved one with crosses. We cannot cross out the numbers, because although we guessed one number, we don’t know exactly which one. A similar situation is in the eighth line. Also in the ninth line, we can say for sure that the first two cells and the last two will definitely not be painted over. Why? It's just that we have already solved one cell in this line, and the only number in this line is three, it should be part of this shaded cell.
	Now let's look at the first column - just like in the previous step, we have only one number in this column - two, and one unraveled cell. Accordingly, the first two and the last four cells will definitely not be painted over. The situation is similar in the second and last four columns.
	You can see that there are very few empty cells left in the central five columns, even more so - their number exactly matches the numbers indicated above. So, all these cells can be painted over.
	Moving on to the lines, we can see that the second and last two lines have already been solved. And in the fifth line, we can put crosses to the left and right of the unraveled cells, because there is nothing in this row except single cells.
	Now we can see that in the fifth row there are only two free cells left, just under the two remaining ones. (It is worth noting that the fifth line could be unraveled from the very beginning, because in nine cells it is possible to arrange five single cells of the same color in only one possible way)
	Moving on to the columns, we see that the first and last columns have already been solved. It remains only to paint over the last cells in the second and eighth columns, and... Congratulations! The crossword is completely solved!

Japanese crossword- a puzzle in which, unlike ordinary crossword puzzles, an image is encrypted, not words.

An example of a Japanese crossword puzzle and how it looks in an already solved form.

First, let's look at the basic elements. In the first picture you see two blocks with numbers (left and top). If we compare it with the solved crossword, it immediately becomes clear that the numbers from the left block show the number painted over cells horizontally, while the numbers from the top block - vertically. For example, if the numbers 2 and 1 are indicated (the first line), then 2 cells and 1 must be filled in on the solution field, in the same order as the numbers go.

How to determine the cells that can be painted over? Let's look at the left block and find the largest numbers - these are 6 , 10 , 6 . And here's what you can color:

In the case of 10, there are no options here, there are only ten cells on the field - which means they will all be painted over. 6 is a little more difficult. If you visually imagine all the options where you can paint over 6 cells, it turns out that there are quite a lot of them, and thus you cannot be absolutely sure which 6 cells can be painted over. But you can paint over at least part of the 6! To do this, consider the most extreme options for the location of the six:

As you can see, two cells are common as a result of the intersection, and no matter how we try to paint over 6 cells, these two cells will definitely be painted over. So, without options, they can be painted over.

Great, part of the drawing is already done. Let's get busy now strikeout cells.

On the second line, you can see that the number 2 has already been filled in, and since this is the last number on this line, all the cells on the right can be crossed out - nothing can be there anymore. On the left, one cell can also be crossed out, because one cannot be painted over there, but we need 1 and 2 separately, and not 3 filled cells together. We also cross out the number 2 from the left block - we have already painted over it.

The images in the Japanese crossword are encrypted with numbers. The numbers are located to the left and above the main playing field. The numbers show how many cells you need to color.

Two colors are used in black and white crosswords: white is the color of the main playing field and black is the color with which the player paints over the cells. Filled cells must be separated by at least one unfilled cell. For convenience, the playing field is divided into blocks 5 by 5 with a bold line.

The numbers above the playing field show how many filled cells should be in each column.

The numbers to the left of the playing field show how many filled cells should be in each line.

Basic requirements for a Japanese crossword puzzle:

1. The crossword must have only 1 solution, i.e. all filled cells can be calculated in a logical way.
2. The number of rows and columns must be a multiple of 5
3. There should be no rows or columns with empty cells.

Basic Steps to Solve

When solving a crossword puzzle, you need to:

1. Find cells that will definitely be filled
2. Find cells that will definitely not be filled
3. Color in the cells whose position of the numbers is exactly known

An example of solving a Japanese crossword puzzle

Let's try to solve a simple Japanese crossword "Letter":

The size of the crossword is 10 by 7. Let's try to solve it.

First, let's find all the cells. The first and last line contains the number 10, which means that the entire line will be filled in completely. Also in the first and last column there is the number 7, which means the entire column will be completely filled. Let's color these rows and columns and cross out the corresponding numbers.

Now let's take a closer look at the second and 6th line. These numbers have start and end shaded cells. Accordingly, we can continue or complete them.

Now let's mark with crosses those cells where they definitely cannot be painted over

Look at lines 3 and 7. Because between the filled cells there should be one empty cell and there are the first two filled cells, we can paint the rest