Hitori is a fascinating game that has gained popularity in recent years. It's a unique logic puzzle that can be challenging at times, but also incredibly satisfying to solve. In this blog post, we'll go over the rules of the game and some advanced tips and tricks to help you become a Hitori master.

The Rules of Hitori

Hitori is played on a grid of squares, usually 5x5 or 6x6. Each square contains a number, which represents its value. The goal of the game is to shade in some of the squares so that no number appears more than once in any row or column. Additionally, no shaded square can be adjacent to another shaded square, either horizontally or vertically. The unshaded squares must form a continuous path through the grid, either horizontally or vertically.

Here's an example of a Hitori puzzle:

     3  1  5  4  2
   +----------------+
 1 | 4  3  2  5  1  |
 2 | 2  1  4  3  5  |
 3 | 5  2  3  1  4  |
 4 | 3  5  1  2  4  |
 5 | 1  4  5  0  0  |
   +----------------+

In this puzzle, the goal is to shade in some of the squares so that no number appears more than once in any row or column. Additionally, no shaded square can be adjacent to another shaded square, either horizontally or vertically. The unshaded squares must form a continuous path through the grid, either horizontally or vertically.

Tips and Tricks

1. Start with the largest numbers: In Hitori, it's often helpful to start with the largest numbers first. These numbers are the most restrictive, since they can't appear again in any row or column. Look for places where a large number is the only number in a row or column, and shade in all the other squares. This can help you eliminate possibilities and make the puzzle easier to solve.
2. Look for patterns: Hitori puzzles often have patterns that can help you solve them. For example, if you see a sequence of three numbers in a row or column, and the first and third numbers are the same, you can shade in the middle number. This is because the middle number can't be the same as the first or third number, so it must be shaded.
3. Use logic: Hitori is a logic puzzle, so use your logical reasoning skills to solve it. If you know that a certain number can't appear in a certain row or column, use that information to eliminate possibilities in other squares. Look for places where a shaded square would create a contradiction, and use that to eliminate possibilities as well.
4. Practice, practice, practice: Like any game, the more you play Hitori, the better you'll get at it. Don't get discouraged if you can't solve a puzzle right away. Keep practicing, and eventually you'll develop the skills you need to solve even the most difficult puzzles.

Conclusion

Hitori is a fun and challenging game that requires logical reasoning and pattern recognition skills. By following these tips and tricks, you can become a Hitori master and impress your friends with your puzzle-solving abilities. So grab a pencil and a piece of paper, and start playing Hitori today!