Tents Solver

Tents Solver — Step by Step

Click squares to plant the trees. Click a number on the right or along the bottom and type its count (? for unknown). Then press Solve. Or play a generated puzzle and send it here with one click.

Tents Solver: rules, how to use it, tips

Pitch a tent beside every tree — one each — so no two tents touch and every row and column has its count.

The rules

Every tree has exactly one tent directly next to it: above, below, left or right (not diagonally).
Every tent belongs to exactly one tree.
Tents never touch each other, not even diagonally.
The numbers outside the grid give the number of tents in each row and column.

Using the solver

Choose the size, click each tree’s square, then click each count and type it (or press Sample).
Press Solve and step through: full lines, only-room, lonely trees, squares no tree can use, every-way checks and what-ifs.

Tips

Grass first. Any square that touches no tree is grass. So are the eight squares around every tent, and the rest of a row or column that already has its tents.
Zeros. A row or column with a 0 is all grass — a quick way to start.
Lonely trees. A tree with only one free square beside it must have its tent there.
Count the room. If a row needs 2 tents and has exactly 2 free squares that do not touch, both are tents.

The full guide, with a worked example and common mistakes: How to play Tents.

Questions

Can a tent be diagonal to its tree?

No — a tent must be directly above, below, left or right of its tree.

Can two trees share one tent?

No. Each tree has its own tent, so the number of tents always equals the number of trees.

What does ‘some counts hidden’ mean?

Some row or column numbers are left out. The puzzle still has exactly one answer, but you have to work harder for it.

How do I solve a puzzle from a book?

Open the Tents Solver, plant the trees, type the counts and press Solve.