The Right Mindset
Nonograms reward patience over speed. The fastest solvers are not the ones who move quickest — they are the ones who extract the most information from each line before moving on. Every step should be a certainty, not a guess.
New to Nonograms? Read the rules first → then come back here.
Tips That Actually Help
Start with the largest clue groups
Big groups relative to the line length give you the most overlap. A clue of 8 in a 10-cell line means 6 cells are certain. Always find these first — they anchor the rest of the puzzle.
Mark empty cells, not just filled ones
Most beginners only mark filled cells. But confirmed empty cells (×) are just as valuable — they break lines into smaller segments that are easier to solve independently. Get in the habit of marking both.
Work in passes, not line by line
Do one pass across all rows, then one pass down all columns. Each pass unlocks new information for the next. Solving a single line completely before moving on is slower than iterating across the whole grid.
Use the overlap formula
For a clue of length k in a line of length n, the guaranteed overlap is 2k − n cells in the centre. If the result is positive, those cells are always filled. Calculate this mentally for every large clue.
Edge cells are powerful clues
If a cell at the very start or end of a line is filled, it must belong to the first or last clue group. This immediately pins the position of that group and may confirm several more cells.
Close out completed groups immediately
Once you have confirmed all cells of a clue group, mark the cells immediately before and after it as empty. This prevents the group from growing into adjacent unknowns in later passes.
Look for clue of 0 lines
A line with clue 0 is entirely empty. Mark every cell in it immediately. These lines take one second and immediately give you information for the perpendicular lines.
Use Note mode for uncertain cells
On nonogram.ch, Note mode adds a small dot pattern to a cell. Use it to mark cells you suspect are filled but haven't confirmed yet. It keeps your thinking visible without committing to a wrong answer.
Check gold clues for free information
When a row or column clue turns gold, it is fully solved. Every cell in it is confirmed. Immediately use the confirmed empty cells in that line to constrain the perpendicular lines — this often breaks open a stuck puzzle.
Never guess — if you are stuck, there is always a deduction available
Every puzzle on nonogram.ch is verified to have a unique logical solution. If you feel stuck, take a step back and look at lines you have not analysed yet. The next move is always there.
What Not To Do
- Guessing. Filling a cell because it looks right leads to cascading errors that are hard to undo. Only fill cells you can prove.
- Ignoring small clue groups. A single isolated 1 at the edge of a line can pin the position of every other group. Never skip small clues.
- Solving rows only. Alternate between rows and columns — that is where all the progress comes from.
- Not closing out completed groups. Always mark the cells around a finished group as empty immediately.
- Forgetting clue order. Groups must appear in the listed order — left to right for rows, top to bottom for columns. You cannot rearrange them.
Tips for Each Size
5×5 — Starter
Almost every cell can be solved in the first pass using overlap alone. If you are new, start here to build intuition before moving up.
10×10 — Classic
The sweet spot. Two or three passes are usually enough. Focus on the largest clue groups first, close out completed lines immediately, and the rest follows.
15×15 — Hard
More passes needed. Segment analysis becomes important — once you have some empty cells, each segment becomes an independent mini-puzzle. Treat them separately.
20×20 — Expert
Low clue density means more unknowns early on. Be methodical. Use Note mode liberally. The contradiction method (assuming a cell is one state, following consequences, reversing if you reach an impossibility) may be needed.
Want a full technical breakdown? The complete strategy guide covers every technique in depth →
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