Pawmoku

How to solve a Pawmoku puzzle

Solve a Pawmoku puzzle by finding tiles that the two rules force. Start with matching pairs and gaps, then count each animal's share. When those stop helping, test the last available place or compare valid line finishes. These five deductions work across rows and columns, without guessing.

Pair ends

Two of the same animal side by side make each empty tile directly beside the pair the other animal.

Before: empty, cat, cat, empty, empty, empty.
After: dog, cat, cat, dog, empty, empty.
How Pair ends works

Middle tile

An empty tile between two of the same animal must hold the other animal.

Before: cat, empty, cat, empty, empty, empty.
After: cat, dog, cat, empty, empty, empty.
How Middle tile works

Full share

When a line already has its half of one animal, every remaining empty tile is the other animal.

Before: cat, cat, dog, cat, empty, empty.
After: cat, cat, dog, cat, dog, dog.
How Full share works

Last spare

With one of an animal left to place, reject a position if it would force three of the other animal in a row.

Before: cat, empty, empty, empty, cat, empty.
After: cat, empty, empty, empty, cat, dog.
How Last spare works

Shared finish

If every valid way to finish a line puts the same animal in a tile, that animal belongs there.

Before: empty, cat, empty, empty, dog, empty, empty, cat.
After: dog, cat, empty, empty, dog, empty, empty, cat.
How Shared finish works

What order should I solve in?

Scan for pairs and gaps first, count each line next, then examine the remaining possibilities.

  1. Read every row and column for a pair or a one-tile gap.
  2. Count cats and dogs. Fill the other animal when a share is full.
  3. After each placement, revisit its row and column: the new animal may create another deduction.
  4. If no simple move appears, try Last spare, then Shared finish.

A deduction explains why a tile cannot hold the other animal. Place only what follows from the rules.

How does board size change the count?

Every line needs half cats and half dogs, so divide its length by two.

Required cats and dogs in each row and column
BoardOf each animal
4x42
6x63
8x84
10x105

The two rules stay the same at every size. The examples above are invented single lines, not complete puzzles.

What should I do when stuck?

Check the animals already placed, then scan both directions again for a forced tile.

Every puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic alone, with no guessing.

Hints and checks are available in Pawmoku. A solve that used a hint or a check never counts toward your team's score and never sets a best time.