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How to solve a logic grid puzzle without melting your brain

Whether you are playing online or puzzling with a pencil and a printed grid, this guide shows you how to read clues, mark the board, and work from easy deductions to the clever stuff.

Start with the 60-second solve loop, learn how board propagation works, then move through the full clue library covering all 21 currently supported clue families.

Start with the 60-second guide Browse live puzzles
  • Web and print friendly
  • Propagation taught explicitly
  • Beginner to expert ladder

Mini-grid teaser

Propagation matters

One confirmed match creates a ring of eliminations. The fastest improvement most players can make is to let the grid keep talking after the first mark lands.

  • ●
    Yes
  • ×
    No
  • ·
    Open

Quick start in 60 seconds

Five moves that carry most first solves

If you want the short version, learn this loop and apply it relentlessly: clue, mark, propagate, scan for forced singles, repeat.

  1. Step 1

    Read one clue at a time.

    Do not try to solve the whole story at once. Pick one clue, translate it, and place only the marks it justifies.

    Example: “Mina is not the baker” gives one clean no-mark.

  2. Step 2

    Mark what must be true.

    When a clue gives a confirmed pairing, place the yes immediately and trust the grid to create the next wave of eliminations.

    Example: “Theo owns the turtle” creates one sure yes.

  3. Step 3

    Cross out what cannot be true.

    No-marks matter just as much as yes-marks. Many puzzles open up because enough impossible options disappear.

    Example: If Theo owns the turtle, Theo cannot own any other pet.

  4. Step 4

    Use one answer to collapse a row or column.

    After every mark, sweep the related row, column, and neighbouring mini-grids before reading another clue.

    Example: One yes often creates a full ring of no-marks around it.

  5. Step 5

    Repeat until every category has one match.

    Logic-grid solving is a calm loop: clue, mark, propagate, scan for forced singles, then return to the clue list.

    Example: When one blank remains in a row, it becomes a forced yes.

How the grid works

Learn the board before you try to outsmart the clues

Each mini-grid compares one category against another. A blank means unknown, a yes means confirmed, and a no means ruled out. The crucial move is understanding that board propagation is a separate skill from clue reading.

  • Blank

    Still unknown. The pairing may work, or it may fail later.

  • Yes

    Confirmed match. Everything else competing with that pairing becomes impossible.

  • No

    Ruled out. Enough no-marks can force the final remaining blank to become yes.

Grid propagation

Solve the board even when you are not reading a new clue

Players do not only solve clues. They also solve the grid itself. Yes creates no. Enough no-marks can create a forced yes. Those effects can chain through several linked mini-grids before you ever touch another line of clue text.

  1. Routine 1

    Place one sure mark

    Start from one confirmed yes or one certain no. Do not move on until you have squeezed value from it.

  2. Routine 2

    Sweep the local row and column

    A confirmed match means every rival pairing in that relationship becomes false immediately.

  3. Routine 3

    Push the result into neighbouring mini-grids

    If Alice is the baker, then Alice cannot be any other job and the baker cannot belong to anyone else. Carry that certainty into every linked comparison.

  4. Routine 4

    Look for newly forced singles

    When only one blank still survives in a row or column, promote it to a yes and repeat the sweep again.

  5. Routine 5

    Repeat before reading the next clue

    Clues give you sparks. Propagation is how one spark turns into a full patch of useful board progress.

Beginner solve loop

A calm step-by-step routine for first-time solvers

You do not need clever leaps. You need a stable routine that turns small certainties into larger ones.

  1. Step 1

    Set up the cast

    Each category contains a cast of options, and every item must match exactly one partner in every other matching category.

  2. Step 2

    Harvest the obvious clues first

    Direct true, false, neither-nor, and short elimination clues usually give the cleanest first board state.

  3. Step 3

    Turn one truth into several no-marks

    One confirmed link forces the rest of that row and column to collapse. This is where the grid starts helping you.

  4. Step 4

    Propagate before hunting for another clue

    Scan connected grids for follow-on eliminations and hidden singles before you read again.

  5. Step 5

    Re-read the clue list after every deduction

    Clue order matters less than board state. A clue that looked vague five minutes ago may now be almost solved for you.

  6. Step 6

    Spot forced choices

    If one square is the only option left in a row or column, it is effectively true even if no clue states it directly.

  7. Step 7

    Chain clues together

    Two modest clues often combine into a stronger deduction than either clue provides on its own.

  8. Step 8

    Save harder clues for later

    Conditional and quantitative clues become friendlier once the board already has structure.

  9. Step 9

    Finish with a proof mindset

    Every final yes-mark should be backed by a clue, a forced single, or a clean chain of elimination you could explain aloud.

Pattern play

How stronger solvers think once the basics are stable

Expert solving usually looks less magical than it seems. It is careful propagation, disciplined branching, and a habit of translating abstract clues into candidate sets.

  • Treat the board like a machine, not a notebook

    Stronger solvers do not just record answers. They actively ask what one new mark forces elsewhere in the system.

  • Delay branching until you need it

    Either-or and compound-or clues often look tempting, but the cleanest move is usually to mine definite clues first.

  • Use extremes on ordered clues

    Greater-than, less-than, exact-difference, and range clues usually crack by ruling out values at the edges before you compare every middle case.

  • Translate filters into candidate sets

    Gender and metadata-attribute clues work best when you first narrow the legal candidates, then map those survivors onto the grid.

  • Ask two questions after every mark

    What else must now be true, and what else is now impossible? That habit is the fastest route from beginner to expert.

Clue library

The full supported clue catalog, taught in player language

This guide covers all 21 clue types currently marked supported across the live player and editor surfaces. The visible copy stays human-friendly, but each card keeps the technical clue label close by when you want a glossary anchor.

Beginner

Beginner clue family

Direct relationship and elimination clues that teach the board without much branching.

  • This pair goes together

    Equality (pair is linked)

    true
    Clue pattern
    A is linked to B.
    What to mark first
    Place the yes, then cross out every competing square in that relationship.
    Common mistake
    Placing the yes but forgetting the surrounding no-marks.
    Mini-example
    Mina is the baker.
    Print-book tip
    Circle the true square, then slash the rest of that row and column.

  • This pair cannot match

    Inequality (pair is not linked)

    false
    Clue pattern
    A is not linked to B.
    What to mark first
    Place the no immediately.
    Common mistake
    Treating a no-mark as weak information. Enough no-marks can force a yes later.
    Mini-example
    Mina is not the baker.
    Print-book tip
    A neat X is enough. Save heavier notation for confirmed yes-marks.

  • Neither of these works

    Neither nor (triple not-equals)

    neither-nor
    Clue pattern
    This item matches neither of two options.
    What to mark first
    Place both no-marks at once, then inspect the fallout around them.
    Common mistake
    Stopping after two eliminations instead of checking for a forced survivor.
    Mini-example
    Mina is neither the baker nor the florist.
    Print-book tip
    Write the clue as two separate no-marks if the wording feels dense.

  • Exactly one of these two options works

    Either-Or (exactly one true)

    either-or
    Clue pattern
    Either A=B or C=B, but not both.
    What to mark first
    Keep the two branches alive and eliminate any third option that the clue excludes.
    Common mistake
    Choosing a branch too early without proof.
    Mini-example
    Either Mina or Theo owns the turtle.
    Print-book tip
    Mark the two live options lightly so you can revisit them after more eliminations.

  • Rule out a short list

    Multi Elimination (list mutually exclusive items)

    multi-elimination
    Clue pattern
    One subject cannot match any option in a short list.
    What to mark first
    Sweep the listed no-marks across the row or column.
    Common mistake
    Missing the moment when only one candidate remains after the sweep.
    Mini-example
    Mina is not in the red, blue, or green house.
    Print-book tip
    Turn the list into separate quick eliminations rather than rereading the full sentence.
Intermediate

Intermediate clue family

Either-or, conditional, and compound clues that reward careful sequencing.

  • If this is true, that must also be true

    Conditional (If … then …)

    conditional-true
    Clue pattern
    If A=B, then C=D.
    What to mark first
    Store the consequence and trigger it only when the if-part becomes true.
    Common mistake
    Placing the result immediately before the condition is confirmed.
    Mini-example
    If Mina is the baker, she lives in the red house.
    Print-book tip
    Underline the trigger part and keep the consequence nearby as a reminder.

  • If this fails, that becomes true

    Conditional (If not … then …)

    conditional-false
    Clue pattern
    If A is not B, then C=D.
    What to mark first
    Wait until the first pairing is ruled out, then fire the result.
    Common mistake
    Reading it as if the first pairing were already false.
    Mini-example
    If Mina is not the baker, Theo owns the turtle.
    Print-book tip
    Write a small arrow from the failed pairing to the consequence.

  • If this is true, that one must be false

    Conditional (If … then NOT …)

    conditional-true-false
    Clue pattern
    If A=B, then C is not D.
    What to mark first
    Hold the no-mark in reserve until the trigger is confirmed.
    Common mistake
    Treating the consequence as already active.
    Mini-example
    If Mina is the baker, Theo is not in the red house.
    Print-book tip
    Phrase it to yourself as “trigger first, elimination second.”

  • If this fails, that one must be false

    Conditional (If not … then NOT …)

    conditional-false-false
    Clue pattern
    If A is not B, then C is not D.
    What to mark first
    Fire the no-mark only after the first pairing is ruled out.
    Common mistake
    Using the consequence before the board proves the trigger false.
    Mini-example
    If Mina is not the baker, Theo is not in the red house.
    Print-book tip
    Keep the clue in two halves: failed pairing, then no-mark.

  • These two items must swap between two options

    Double Either-Or

    double-either-or
    Clue pattern
    Two people or items split across two possibilities in one of two arrangements.
    What to mark first
    Treat it as a swap: branch A or branch B.
    Common mistake
    Forgetting that the clue constrains both items together, not just one of them.
    Mini-example
    Mina and Theo are split between the red and blue houses.
    Print-book tip
    Sketch the two branches in the page margin if the swap is hard to hold in your head.

  • Two facts arrive together

    Compound AND

    compound-and
    Clue pattern
    This clue gives two separate facts that are both true.
    What to mark first
    Split the sentence into fact one and fact two, then mark them cleanly.
    Common mistake
    Trying to solve the whole sentence in one mental jump.
    Mini-example
    Mina is the baker and Theo owns the turtle.
    Print-book tip
    Number the two facts if that helps you place them separately.

  • At least one of these facts is true

    Compound OR

    compound-or
    Clue pattern
    One branch or the other survives, and sometimes both stay alive for a while.
    What to mark first
    Treat it as branching logic and use board pressure to kill one branch later.
    Common mistake
    Assuming “or” means exactly one when the clue does not say that.
    Mini-example
    Either Mina is the baker, or Theo lives in the red house.
    Print-book tip
    Keep both branches pencilled lightly until the board forces a decision.
Advanced

Advanced clue family

Ordered and quantitative clues that work best once the board already has structure.

  • This value is larger

    Greater than (quantitative)

    greater-than
    Clue pattern
    A has a larger ordered value than B.
    What to mark first
    Eliminate impossible extremes first.
    Common mistake
    Comparing every middle value before removing values that can never fit.
    Mini-example
    Mina finished later than Theo.
    Print-book tip
    Write the ordered values in sequence so the extremes are easy to see.

  • This value is smaller

    Less than (quantitative)

    less-than
    Clue pattern
    A has a smaller ordered value than B.
    What to mark first
    Eliminate impossible extremes first, but reversed.
    Common mistake
    Forgetting that the smallest value can never satisfy the larger side of the clue.
    Mini-example
    Mina finished earlier than Theo.
    Print-book tip
    Draw a tiny less-than arrow in the margin if the direction keeps flipping in your head.

  • These two values are a fixed distance apart

    Exact Difference (quantitative)

    exact-difference
    Clue pattern
    A and B differ by an exact gap on an ordered scale.
    What to mark first
    Rule out values that cannot possibly fit the required gap.
    Common mistake
    Treating the gap as approximate instead of exact.
    Mini-example
    Mina finished exactly two places after Theo.
    Print-book tip
    List legal pairs for the gap, then strike them out as other clues land.

  • This value must sit inside a range

    Range Between (quantitative)

    range-between
    Clue pattern
    A falls between a minimum and maximum allowed value.
    What to mark first
    Cross out everything outside the allowed band.
    Common mistake
    Forgetting the clue is inclusive or exclusive depending on the wording.
    Mini-example
    Mina finished between second and fourth place.
    Print-book tip
    Shade the legal range lightly so the forbidden values stand out.

  • These values share a remainder pattern

    Parity/Modulo (quantitative)

    parity-modulo
    Clue pattern
    Two values must match or avoid a parity or modulo bucket.
    What to mark first
    Group the ordered values by parity or remainder, then eliminate incompatible pairings.
    Common mistake
    Trying to compare exact values before using the bucket pattern.
    Mini-example
    Mina and Theo have table numbers with the same parity.
    Print-book tip
    Write the value buckets first: odd-even, or remainder classes.

  • These linked values are a set number apart

    Ordinal Offset

    ordinal-offset
    Clue pattern
    Two linked entities sit a fixed offset apart on an ordered category.
    What to mark first
    Track both linked entities against the ordered scale together.
    Common mistake
    Solving only one side of the pair instead of the linked offset.
    Mini-example
    The baker finished one place before the turtle owner.
    Print-book tip
    Think in paired tracks rather than two independent values.
Expert

Expert clue family

Aggregate, identity-filter, and metadata-style clues that ask you to control candidate sets cleanly.

  • These linked values combine to a target total

    Sum/Aggregate (quantitative)

    sum-aggregate
    Clue pattern
    Two linked values must add to or satisfy a target aggregate relation.
    What to mark first
    Build the candidate pairs that fit the total, then strike invalid combinations.
    Common mistake
    Treating the clue as a direct placement instead of a candidate filter.
    Mini-example
    The baker and the turtle owner have values that sum to ten.
    Print-book tip
    Create a mini candidate table off to the side before you touch the main grid.

  • This pairing must match a gender filter

    Gender Identity

    gender-true
    Clue pattern
    An item links to someone or something that satisfies a gender rule.
    What to mark first
    Narrow the candidate list first, then map the surviving options normally.
    Common mistake
    Forgetting that the gender filter reduces candidates before other clue logic applies.
    Mini-example
    The turtle owner is one of the women in the cast.
    Print-book tip
    Mark the filtered candidates in the margin before you place any grid marks.

  • This pairing must match a named attribute

    Metadata Attribute Identity

    metadata-attribute-true
    Clue pattern
    An item links to someone or something with a specific metadata attribute.
    What to mark first
    Convert the attribute filter into a candidate subset before placing marks.
    Common mistake
    Treating the attribute as flavour text instead of a real constraint.
    Mini-example
    The baker belongs to the person tagged as left-handed.
    Print-book tip
    Translate the attribute into a short candidate list so the clue becomes concrete.

FAQ and common mistakes

The sticking points most solvers hit first

These answers focus on the mistakes that most often stall otherwise capable solvers: reading too fast, under-using propagation, and forcing hard clues before the board is ready.

  • What is the first clue type a beginner should trust?

    Start with direct true and false clues, then neither-nor and short elimination clues. They give the cleanest first marks and the clearest propagation.

  • What should I do after placing one yes-mark?

    Stop reading clues for a moment. Sweep the local row and column, push the result into linked mini-grids, and look for any forced singles.

  • Why do I get stuck even when I understand the clues?

    Most stalls come from under-using propagation. Players often place the first mark correctly, then move on before harvesting the chain of eliminations it created.

  • Should I solve clues in order?

    Not necessarily. Read the full list, then work on the clue that is currently easiest to place on the board you already have.

  • Are print-book puzzles solved differently from online puzzles?

    No. The solving logic is the same. Printed puzzles only ask you to manage your own notation instead of clicking cells.

  • When should I use harder clues like conditionals or exact differences?

    Use them once the board already has some structure. They become much easier when several candidates have already been ruled out.

Next step

Put the guide to work on a live board

The fastest way to make this page stick is to solve something immediately. Pick a puzzle, try the quick-start loop, and make yourself propagate every mark before reading the next clue.