Thinking ahead / 08
Work through the board
Outlines show the reason. Rings show the next move.
Small numbers identify matching colors.
Step 1 of 7
Each outlined color needs one animal. These 4 colors need 4 animals altogether.
?
Test placement 1, 2…
Forced animals
Faded Xs show what the test would rule out.
When to use it
The shared-lines rule also works for four or more colors. Gather their remaining openings and count the distinct rows or columns they occupy. When the counts match, no other color can use those lines.
What to watch for
Look for singles and smaller sets first because they are easier to track. A larger set is valid only when every opening of each included color lies within the counted lines.
Read the full explanation
- Each outlined color needs one animal. These 4 colors need 4 animals altogether.
- All their openings are in columns 1, 4, 5, 6. Those 4 columns are reserved for these 4 animals.
- Other colors cannot use these columns. Mark the ringed squares with Xs.
- The Xs are in place. Now look at the remaining openings.
- Column 1 has only one square left.
- Place an animal in the ringed square.
- The monkey belongs in row 5, column 1.
