Tangram
Fit the seven pieces together to fill each shape.
How to play Tangram
Tangram is an old Chinese puzzle made of seven flat pieces cut from one square: two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, a square and a parallelogram. With these seven pieces you can build hundreds of shapes, like animals, boats, houses and letters.
Goal
Cover the dark shape completely with all seven pieces. Pieces may touch but must not overlap, and nothing may stick out.
Moving the pieces
- Drag a piece with the mouse or your finger to move it onto the shape.
- Tap a piece once to pick it, and tap it again to turn it 45 degrees. The ⟲ and ⟳ buttons turn the picked piece left or right. With a mouse, you can also use the scroll wheel.
- The parallelogram has a mirror side. Use the ⇋ button, or right-click the piece, to flip it over.
- When a corner gets close to the grid or to another piece, the piece snaps into place, so you do not need to be exact.
- Undo takes back moves. Hint shows where one piece goes; press it again and that piece moves there for you.
Levels
On Easy, faint lines inside the shape show where the pieces meet. Medium shows only the outline. On Hard, the pieces start turned and flipped at random, so you must find the right side yourself. Pick any of the 35 shapes from the Puzzle list; solved shapes get a tick.
Keyboard
Press Tab to move between pieces. Arrow keys slide the picked piece one step (hold Shift for small steps), R or Enter turns it right, E turns it left and F flips it.
End of the game
As soon as the whole shape is covered, the puzzle is solved and the next shape is ready. There is often more than one way to fill a shape, and any correct way counts. For another calm puzzle, try Peg Solitaire.
Strategy tips
- Place the big triangles first. The two large triangles cover half of every shape. Find the wide parts of the shape and put them there.
- Look for sharp corners. A narrow point in the outline can only be filled by a triangle tip. Small triangles often make ears, beaks and tails.
- Save the parallelogram for last. It is the hardest piece to fit. If it does not fit, try flipping it before you move other pieces.
- Think in squares. Two small triangles make a square, and two large triangles also make a square. Swapping pieces like this can open up a new solution.
- Count the area. A large triangle is as big as four small triangles. If a gap is too big for the pieces you have left, something else is in the wrong place.
Tangram FAQ
Where does Tangram come from?
Tangram was first described in China around 200 years ago and soon became popular all over the world. The seven pieces always come from cutting one square.
Can a shape have more than one answer?
Yes. Many shapes can be filled in several ways. The game checks that the shape is fully covered, so any correct way solves it.
Why does my piece not fit even though it looks right?
It may be turned the wrong way or need flipping. Triangles turn in 45 degree steps, and the parallelogram must sometimes be flipped over.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. The current puzzle and the list of solved shapes are saved in your browser, so you can come back later and carry on.
