Gokigen Naname facts for kids

A solved Gokigen Naname puzzle

Gokigen Naname is a fun logic puzzle from a Japanese company called Nikoli. It's a bit like a brain-teaser where you figure things out step by step! The name "Gokigen Naname" means "pleasant diagonal" in Japanese.

How to Play Gokigen Naname

Imagine a grid, like a checkerboard. At some of the corners where the lines meet, you'll see circles with numbers inside them.

Your goal is to draw a diagonal line (either / or \) in every square of the grid. The trick is, the number in each circle tells you how many lines should touch that circle's corner.

Also, a super important rule: you can't draw lines that make a closed loop or circle. All your lines must connect to the edges of the grid. Unlike some other puzzles, your lines don't all have to connect into one big network.

Solving the Puzzle

Solving Gokigen Naname involves using logic to figure out where each diagonal line goes. You start with the numbers given and make deductions.

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  Basic positions and combinations assuming no strategy or game play.

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  Immediate deductions from single numbers.

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  Deductions from two numbers.

Starting with Single Numbers

• Corners: If a circle in a corner has a 0 or a 1, you can often figure out the line in that square right away. A 0 means no lines touch it, and a 1 means only one line touches it.
• Edges: A number along the edge of the grid can help you decide the lines in the squares next to it.
• Middle: If a circle is in the middle of the grid (not on an edge or corner), a 4 means all four lines must touch it. A 0 cannot be in the middle, as it would force a closed loop.

Using Two Numbers Together

Sometimes, looking at two numbers next to each other helps.

• If two 1s or two 3s are side-by-side in the middle of the grid, the two squares between them must have lines that connect in a certain way.
• If a 1 is next to two squares that have the same line pattern, you can figure out how the lines around the 1 must be drawn.
• If a 3 is next to two squares with the same line pattern, you can also make a deduction.
• You can't have two 1s at opposite corners of a square in the middle of the grid, because that would create a forbidden closed loop.

Connecting to the Edges

Remember, lines cannot form a closed loop. This means all the diagonal lines you draw must eventually connect to the outer edges of the grid. If you have a group of lines that doesn't touch the edge, and there's only one way it *could* touch the edge, then it *must* connect that way!