ABC puzzle is about filling the board with letters A, B and C so that the same letters can’t touch by side.
Numbers at the top and on the left on the board show how many A, B, C letters are in columns and rows.
In each column (row) different number of the letters can be used.
Puzzle demands perceptiveness and perception of relations between columns and rows.
You should start solving a puzzle with columns (rows) with not all letters or columns (rows) where one letter appears many times.
An example puzzle:
Solution:
Solving methods
When you have got a problem with starting or solving a puzzle, look at the following methods.
Method no. 1
First of all, look at the board and check if configuration gives possibility to place some of the letters e.g. if letters A and B are in the configuration that you can place between them only letter C.
On the diagram below you can see that in the marked area letters B and C are in configuration which allows to place only the letter C.
Method no. 2
This method is about finding columns or rows where there is a huge number of the same letter.
After you calculate them, you can see that the letters can be placed only in particular fields, not in others. It’s a main method in solving ABC puzzles.
Below, in the marked column you can place only five letters A and three letters B. When you calculate letters A (they can’t contact by side) you will find only one possible configuration of them. As a result we will also know the fields for letters B.
Method no. 3
In this method, look at the particular column (row) and simultaneously check a row (column).
On the following diagram in row on the bottom you have to place only one letter A, but you have got two fields as a an option.
However, when you look at the first column on the left side (in this column letter A can’t be placed) you will find that there is only one field where you can place letter A in the row.
Method no. 4
This method is about analyzing intersecting rows (columns) and contacted fields. This way you can eliminate potential places for particular letter in the row (column).
On the following diagram, at first sight, in the marked column you don't know the correct places for letters.
However, if you look at intersecting rows, you will see that in two rows letter A contacts with the marked column.
Moreover, in the next two rows you can’t put other letters A, because the limit for the letter A was used up.
That’s why on the intersection you can’t also place the letter A.
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