How to play Puntokus
Puntokus is a logic puzzle played on a grid. Place dots until every row and column matches its number and every dot belongs to a pair. Both conditions must hold at the same time.
Two conditions, one solution to find
- The number beside a row tells you how many dots belong in that row. The number above a column tells you how many dots belong in that column.
- Every dot must touch exactly one other dot by a side: above, below, left or right. A dot with no neighbor is alone; a dot with two or more neighbors is not a valid pair.
- Diagonals don’t count as neighbors. Dots from different pairs may touch diagonally.
- A cross is an optional note for a cell you think should stay empty. Crosses don’t count toward the clues and aren’t required to finish.
A worked 3 × 3 example
This is the same small board used by the interactive tutorial. Read the row clues from top to bottom: 2, 1, 1. Read the column clues from left to right: 1, 1, 2.
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Empty |
| Row 2: 1 | Empty | Empty | Dot |
| Row 3: 1 | Empty | Empty | Dot |
Put dots in the first two cells of the top row, then in the rightmost cells of the middle and bottom rows. The top dots form a horizontal pair; the two rightmost dots form a vertical pair. Rows contain 2, 1, 1 dots and columns contain 1, 1, 2. Each dot has exactly one side neighbor.
- The top row already has its two dots, so its third cell stays empty.
- The first and second columns already have their one dot, so the cells below those dots stay empty.
- The rightmost column needs two dots. Its two remaining cells provide them and form a pair. The board is complete.
The dot at the top center and the dot at the middle right touch diagonally. That is allowed: they each have their own partner by a side.
Two mistakes to recognize
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Dot |
| Row 2: 1 | Empty | Empty | Empty |
| Row 3: 1 | Empty | Empty | Empty |
The center dot touches two dots by a side. That breaks the pair rule. In this board, three dots also exceed the top row's clue of two.
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Empty |
| Row 2: 1 | Empty | Empty | Dot |
| Row 3: 1 | Empty | Empty | Empty |
The dot at the middle right touches the top center dot only diagonally. It still has no side neighbor. The top pair is valid, but the third dot needs a partner.
Solving techniques
Each example starts from previously deduced marks and shows one step. The board shown under “After” may still need more moves. A puzzle is solved only when every clue is met and every dot has exactly one side neighbor.
Complete a line, then exclude its remaining cells
If a row or column already contains its required number of dots, none of its other cells can contain a dot. You may mark those cells with crosses.
Before
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Unmarked |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
After
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
The top row needs two dots and already has two. Its third cell is ruled out: mark it with a cross.
Dashed outlines show the cells changed in this step.
Count the dots still needed
Subtract the dots already placed from the clue. If that many cells remain possible, all of them need dots. For example, a clue of three with one dot placed still needs two dots. If only two cells remain possible, both must contain dots. Only treat a cell as excluded when your deduction is sound: a cross is your note, not proof.
Before
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 2 | Column 3: 1 | Column 4: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 3 | Dot | Unmarked | Cross: ruled-out cell | Unmarked |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 2 | Unmarked | Dot | Dot | Unmarked |
After
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 2 | Column 3: 1 | Column 4: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 3 | Dot | Dot — Deduced in this step | Cross: ruled-out cell | Dot — Deduced in this step |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 2 | Unmarked | Dot | Dot | Unmarked |
The third column already has its one dot in the bottom row, which explains the cross above it. The top row needs three dots and has one. Only its second and fourth cells remain possible: both need dots. The new top-right dot still needs its partner directly below; this step does not finish the board.
Dashed outlines show the cells changed in this step.
Protect each completed pair
Once two dots form a pair, every other cell sharing a side with either dot must stay empty. An extra neighbor would break the pair. A cell that touches the pair only diagonally is not ruled out by this rule.
Before
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 1 | Column 4: 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Dot | Dot |
| Row 2: 2 | Dot | Dot | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 4: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
After
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 1 | Column 4: 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step | Dot | Dot |
| Row 2: 2 | Dot | Dot | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step | Unmarked |
| Row 3: 1 | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step | Cross: ruled-out cell — Deduced in this step | Unmarked | Unmarked |
| Row 4: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
The pair in the second row rules out the five cells that share a side with it. The dot in the top row’s third cell is still allowed: it touches that pair only diagonally and has its own partner to the right.
Dashed outlines show the cells changed in this step.
Look for a dot's only possible partner
If a dot has no partner yet and only one possible side neighbor, that cell needs a dot. Conversely, a cell cannot contain a dot if all of its side neighbors are ruled out. Check the row and column counts as well.
Before
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Cross: ruled-out cell |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Cross: ruled-out cell | Dot |
| Row 3: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Unmarked |
After
| Column 1: 1 | Column 2: 1 | Column 3: 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1: 2 | Dot | Dot | Cross: ruled-out cell |
| Row 2: 1 | Unmarked | Cross: ruled-out cell | Dot |
| Row 3: 1 | Unmarked | Unmarked | Dot — Deduced in this step |
The rightmost dot in the middle row still needs a partner. The cell above is ruled out because the top row already has its two dots. The cell to its left is ruled out because the middle row already has its one dot. Place its partner directly below: now every clue and every pair is complete.
Dashed outlines show the cells changed in this step.
Playing on the board
Choose the dot or cross tool, then select a cell. You can undo, redo and clear the board. The game checks your dots against both the clues and the pair rule; matching the counts alone doesn’t finish a puzzle. For the interactive tutorial, open How to play in the game.
Common questions
Is Puntokus free? Do I need an account?
Yes. The web game is free, with no account, ads or purchases. You can start right away in your browser.
Will my progress be saved?
Yes, in this browser, when browser storage is available. Progress and preferences don’t sync between devices, and clearing the site’s data also removes your saved games.
How does the daily puzzle work?
The Daily is one board, the same for everyone, and a new one arrives every day at 00:00 UTC. There’s no archive: each Daily is available only on its day.
Do I have to mark every empty cell with a cross?
No. Only dots count for the rules. Crosses help you record deductions, but an unmarked empty cell works just as well on a finished board.