Introduction

There are several techniques that can be systematically applied to solve any Picture Cross puzzle.Some of the most useful ones are described...

1. Simple Boxes

If a line has a single number clue less than the total length of the line, but greater than half of the total length of the line, the square...

2. Anchoring

When a square at one of the edges of the grid is filled, we can deduce that this square is part of the first (for left and top edges) or las...

3. Joining and splitting

If a line has a single number clue, and there are already two or more separate blocks of squares filled on the line, the gaps between those ...

4. Free space

Any empty squares on a partially completed line that are too distant to form part of any of the blocks described in the clue can be determin...

5. Punctuation

Once one or all blocks described in a line's clue have been placed, we can add Xs to the empty cells to add information to the perpendicular...