The fastest way to learn Masyu: learn the three rules, solve three or four 6×6 Easy puzzles with error highlighting switched on, then learn the corner and edge patterns. Most people are comfortable with 8×8 puzzles within a week of short daily sessions.
What you need to know first
Only three things — the full explanation is in How to play Masyu:
- Draw one closed loop through cell centres, with no branches or crossings.
- On a black pearl, the loop turns and goes straight for at least one more cell on both sides.
- On a white pearl, the loop goes straight and turns right next to it.
A five-step routine for every puzzle
Beginners often stare at the whole board. Instead, work through the same checklist every time:
1 Corners and edges
Black pearls in corners are fully determined. Black pearls on edges send one arm inward. White pearls on edges run along the edge. Draw all of these first.
2 Pearl groups
Look for two black pearls side by side (they point apart) and rows of three white pearls (they’re crossed perpendicular). These patterns jump out once you know them.
3 Mark what’s impossible
Right-click (or double-tap) edges to mark ✕ wherever the loop can’t go — beside a black pearl’s arm, around cells that are already full, and beyond a white pearl that already has its turn.
4 Follow the loose ends
Every line end must continue. If an end has only one possible exit, extend it. Never join two ends of the same segment unless that finishes the puzzle.
5 Repeat
Each new line unlocks something somewhere else. Go back to step 1 and scan again.
Your first week of Masyu
| Day | Play | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6×6 Easy #1–#3 | Learn the rules; keep error highlighting on. |
| 2 | 6×6 Easy #4–#6 | Always start with corners and edges. |
| 3 | 6×6 Medium #1–#3 | Use ✕ marks deliberately. |
| 4 | 8×8 Easy #1–#2 | Spot adjacent black pearls and white rows. |
| 5 | 8×8 Medium #1–#2 | Track loose ends; avoid small loops. |
| 6 | Daily Masyu (10×10) | Your first full-size puzzle — take your time. |
| 7 | 6×6 Hard #1 | Try your first “what-if” deduction. |
Your progress and best times are saved automatically, so you can see yourself improving.
Use the tools — they’re there to teach
- Error highlighting shows a broken rule the moment it happens. Leave it on while learning.
- Pearl glow — a pearl gets a green ring once its rule is satisfied, so you can see which pearls still need work.
- Check tells you whether any line or ✕ is wrong, without giving the answer away.
- Hint fixes a mistake first, then adds one correct segment. Try to work out why that segment is forced.
What to do when you’re stuck
- Re-scan every pearl: is there one with only one way left to satisfy its rule?
- Look at each loose end: how many exits does it really have?
- Look for cells with only one possible exit — they’re dead ends and can be crossed out.
- Still stuck? Read the common mistakes guide — you may have a line in the wrong place.
How do you know you’re ready to level up?
When you can solve a size on Hard without hints, move up a size. A good path is 6×6 → 8×8 → 10×10 → 15×15. When the direct patterns stop being enough, our guide to solving hard Masyu introduces what-if reasoning.