TERRAZZO · Daily hints · Guides
How do I solve the Kinship Law in Terrazzo?
Kinship says that the regions of each listed colour must match the sizes shown on the frame's edge. Read the numbers, build one region at a time, and count each one when it is done.
- A region is stones of one colour that touch side by side. Corners do not join them.
- Every listed size needs exactly one region. No extra regions, and none left out.
- Unlisted colours are free. The Law ignores them completely.
What is a region in Terrazzo?
A region is a group of same-coloured stones joined along their edges. Two stones that meet only at a corner are two separate regions. A single stone with no same-coloured neighbour is a region of one.
Kinship counts every region of a listed colour. If the frame shows 3 and 2 for blue, the finished mosaic must hold exactly one blue region of three stones and one of two. A stray blue stone elsewhere would break the Law.
How do I read the numbers on the edge?
Each colour has its own list of sizes. Read them as a shopping list: each number is one region you still owe the board. The order does not matter, only the sizes.
Tick them off as you build. When a colour's list is all ticked and no blue stones are left over, that colour is finished. Some days name only one colour, which makes a gentle start.
Where do I begin?
Begin with the largest number, because large regions have the fewest places to fit. This method is covered in Kinship strategy for big regions. Once the large pieces sit, the small ones slot in around them.
If a size of one appears, save it for last. A lone stone is easy to place, and it also makes a handy spacer between two regions that must not merge.
How do I check my count?
Check one colour at a time. Look past the other colours and trace each blue group with your finger. Say the sizes aloud: three, then two.
Then look for the quiet mistakes:
1. Two same-coloured regions touching side by side, which merge into one larger region. 2. A region one stone too big or too small. 3. A leftover stone of a listed colour that belongs to no planned region.
Most near-misses come from the first one. Put a stone of another colour between the regions and the sizes are safe again.
How does Kinship work with the other Laws?
Kinship usually shares the board with Solitude or The Vein. Solitude keeps ☉ stones from touching, even at a corner. The Vein asks for one unbroken path between the frame's two notches.
Plan the most restrictive piece first. Often that is the path or the largest region. Then see how the Solitude Law or the Vein Law fits in the space left.
What if I am stuck?
Lift only the stones around the region that will not settle, and leave the rest of the mosaic in place. Place them again slowly, counting as you go. A short break also helps, and the puzzle will still be there.
Every day has three hints. A nudge arrives at 00:00 UTC, the Laws in plain words at 08:00 UTC, and the answer at 16:00 UTC. Try the nudge first and keep the solve your own.
Try it on today's puzzle
Open today's puzzle page and look at the numbers on the frame before you place a stone. Terrazzo is free to play each day on iPhone and iPad from the App Store.