🔘 How to play Binairo (Takuzu)
By Miguel Arechaga
Binairo, also known as Takuzu, Binoxxo or binary Sudoku, is a logic puzzle that uses only two symbols: 0 and 1. Its rules are very easy to learn but lead to some wonderfully elegant deductions. It's perfect if you like logic puzzles and want something different from Sudoku. Here we explain the rules and a few tricks.
What is Binairo?
It's a grid puzzle (usually 10x10) filled with zeros and ones. The fun is in three rules that must all hold at once: no three of the same symbol in a row, an equal balance of 0s and 1s on every line, and no repeated rows or columns.
Rules and how to play step by step
- Fill each cell with a 0 or a 1.
- No triplets: there can't be three 0s or three 1s in a row, either horizontally or vertically.
- Balance: each row and each column must have the same number of 0s as 1s (on a 10-cell line, five of each).
- No repeated lines: no two rows can be identical, nor can two columns. Every puzzle has a unique solution.
Tricks to solve Binairo
- Avoid the triplet: if you see two identical symbols together (00 or 11), the cells on either side must take the opposite symbol.
- Fill gaps between matching symbols: if you have a pattern like 1 _ 1, the gap has to be 0 to avoid forming three ones... and vice versa.
- Count: once a row already has its full quota of ones, everything else in that row is zeros (and vice versa).
- Compare near-complete lines: the "no repeated rows" rule solves the last cells when two rows look almost identical.
How it differs from Sudoku
Compared to classic Sudoku, Binairo uses only two symbols instead of nine and has no boxes, but its three rules force a highly addictive kind of binary reasoning. If you enjoy logic puzzles, you'll also like Futoshiki.
🏆 Time ranking
Binairo has its own global ranking: your best time to complete the board is saved. Go to Ranking, the 🕹️ 1 Player tab, choose "Binairo" from the dropdown, and compare your score with other players, synced to your account. For your result to count you need a free account on MundoSudoku (just a username and password, no email required): you can play without one, but without logging in your score won't be saved to the ranking.
