Strimko facts for kids

Strimko is a fun logic puzzle game that uses numbers. The Grabarchuk Family created it in 2008. This puzzle is based on an old idea called "Latin squares." A famous scientist named Leonhard Euler first talked about Latin squares in the 1700s.

You can solve all Strimko puzzles using only clear thinking. You don't need any special math skills! Strimko puzzles use three main parts: rows, columns, and streams. All these parts have the same number of spaces. Your goal is to make sure each row, column, and stream has a full set of numbers without repeats.

The spaces in the puzzle grid are grouped into "streams." These streams are all the same length. They often go diagonally or even branch out. This makes the puzzles tricky and interesting! Helen, Tanya, and Peter Grabarchuk carefully made hundreds of these puzzles. You can find them on the internet, phones, computers, and even in books.

How to Play Strimko

The main goal of Strimko is to fill in a grid with numbers. Grids can be different sizes, like 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5. You need to follow three simple rules to win the game.

Rule 1: Rows Must Be Unique

• Every number in a row must be different.
• For example, if your puzzle uses numbers 1 to 5, a row cannot have two 3s.

Rule 2: Columns Must Be Unique

• Every number in a column must be different.
• Just like rows, if you have numbers 1 to 5, a column cannot have two 4s.

Rule 3: Streams Must Be Unique

• Each "stream" in the puzzle must have different numbers.
• Streams are special groups of cells that can twist and turn.
• Even if a stream goes diagonally, all its numbers must be unique.