How to Play Masyu: Rules, Strategy & Free Puzzles

Masyu is a single-loop puzzle played on a grid of white and black pearls. You draw one closed loop through the centres of cells so it never crosses itself and passes through every pearl. White pearls demand the loop go straight through while turning just before or after; black pearls demand a turn on the pearl with straight runs beyond.

• Skill: Loop logic & spatial reasoning
• ·
• Difficulty: Advanced

How to play Masyu

1. One closed loop. Draw a single continuous loop through cell centres that never crosses or branches.
2. White pearls go straight. At a white pearl the loop passes straight through, but it must turn in at least one of the cells immediately before or after.
3. Black pearls turn. At a black pearl the loop makes a 90° turn, and it must go straight for the cell just beyond each end of that turn.
4. Visit every pearl. The loop must pass through all pearls; empty cells may be used freely or skipped.

Masyu strategy & tips

• A black pearl on or near an edge has few legal turns — those are usually forced first.
• Two white pearls in a row force the loop to run straight across both.
• Keep checking that segments cannot close into a small loop early; only one big loop is allowed.

Masyu FAQ

Related puzzles

Reference: Masyu on Wikipedia