How to play Fence Regions
Draw fences along the grid lines to split the grid into regions of the same size, with each number counting the fences around its square. Also known as Palisade, Equal regions fence puzzle.
The rules
- Every region has exactly the given number of squares, joined side by side.
- A number says how many of its square’s four sides are fences.
- The outer edge of the grid counts as a fence.
- Every square belongs to exactly one region.
Playing Fence Regions on Puzzle Solvers
- Choose a grid and region size and a difficulty, then press New Puzzle.
- Tap a grid line to draw a fence, again to mark it open (✕), again to clear. Drag along lines to do several.
- Finished regions of the right size are coloured; numbers turn green when they have exactly that many fences.
- Hint explains the next fence — numbers, regions that are full, and the only ways a region can be finished.
Using the Fence Regions solver
- Choose the grid and region size and type the numbers (or press Sample).
- Press Solve and step through: fence counts, full regions and region shapes.
A worked example
With regions of 4, a corner 2 is open to its two neighbours — those three squares are in one region, and it needs just one more.
A 3 on an edge has one open side: follow it to find the region the square belongs to.
Strategies
- Corners and edges. A corner square already has two fences from the edge; a 2 there means it is open inwards on both sides.
- Zeros and fours. A 0 square is open all round; a 4 square is a region on its own — only possible with regions of 1.
- Full regions. Once a region has all its squares, fence it all round.
- Too big. Never join two groups whose sizes add up to more than one region.
- Only one way. A small group with just one open side must grow through it.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that the outer edge counts as a fence.
- Making a region one square too big.
- Leaving a pocket of squares that can’t make a whole region.
Where it comes from
Equal-region fence puzzles were popularised by puzzle designers in the 2000s and appear regularly at puzzle championships.
Frequently asked questions
Do regions have to be the same shape?
No — only the same size. They can be any shape, as long as their squares are joined side by side.
Does the edge of the grid count?
Yes — it counts as a fence for the numbers.
Is there always one answer?
Yes — every puzzle here is checked to have exactly one solution.
How do I solve one from a book?
Open the Fence Regions Solver, choose the region size, type the numbers and press Solve.
Keep going
- Play Fence Regionsa fresh puzzle every time
- Fence Regions Solverstep by step, every move explained
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