Tents & Trees
A relaxing camping logic puzzle
Tents & Trees is a charming grid logic puzzle where you place tents on a campground grid. Each tree must be paired with exactly one tent placed orthogonally adjacent to it (not diagonally). No two tents can touch each other, even diagonally. Row and column numbers tell you how many tents belong in each line. These layered constraints create a satisfying deduction experience that combines spatial reasoning with numerical logic.
How to Play Tents & Trees
Pair Each Tree
Every tree on the grid must have exactly one tent placed directly next to it — above, below, left, or right (not diagonally).
No Touching Tents
Tents cannot be adjacent to other tents in any direction, including diagonals. This creates exclusion zones around each tent.
Row & Column Clues
Numbers along the edges tell you exactly how many tents must appear in that row or column. Use these to narrow placements.
Mark Empty Cells
Mark cells as grass (empty) when you determine they cannot contain a tent. This is crucial for elimination logic.
One-to-One Pairing
Each tent pairs with exactly one tree, and each tree pairs with exactly one tent. The pairing must be orthogonally adjacent.
Use Elimination
If a row or column's tent count is satisfied, mark all remaining cells as grass. If a tree has only one valid tent position, place it.
Strategy & Solving Tips
Success in Tents & Trees comes from combining the row/column counts with tent-placement constraints. Work systematically through these techniques.
- Start with zero-count rows and columns — mark every cell in those lines as grass immediately
- Find trees with only one possible tent position (other adjacent cells are blocked by grass, edges, or other tents)
- When a row or column is full (tent count satisfied), mark all remaining empty cells in that line as grass
- Use the no-touching rule aggressively: placing a tent eliminates all 8 surrounding cells for other tents
- Count remaining tents needed vs. available positions in each row/column to find forced placements
- Look for trees that share potential tent positions — if two trees compete for the same cell, deduce which gets priority
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the diagonal no-touching rule — tents cannot touch other tents even diagonally, not just orthogonally
- Placing a tent next to a tree without confirming that tree doesn't already have a tent assigned from another direction
- Ignoring the row and column counts when multiple tent positions seem valid — the counts break the tie
- Not marking cells as grass early enough — confirmed empty cells are your most powerful elimination tool
Tents & Trees FAQ
Can a tent be placed diagonally from its tree?
No. Tents must be placed directly above, below, left, or right of their paired tree — never diagonally. However, tents and trees from different pairs can be diagonal to each other.
Can two trees share the same tent?
No. Each tree must have its own unique tent, and each tent belongs to exactly one tree. The pairing is strictly one-to-one.
What if a row number is 0?
That row contains no tents at all. Mark every cell in that row as grass immediately. This is one of the strongest starting deductions in the puzzle.
Do I need to figure out which tent belongs to which tree?
To solve the puzzle, you only need to place tents in the correct cells. However, determining tree-tent pairings often helps in deduction, especially when multiple trees compete for limited positions.
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Ready to Play Tents & Trees?
Enjoy the satisfying deduction of Tents & Trees — a relaxing yet challenging puzzle that blends spatial placement with numerical reasoning. Every tree needs a tent, and every clue brings you closer to the solution.