Pattern / Nonogram
How much space do nonogram clues need in Pattern?
Add the run lengths and one white separator between each neighbouring pair of runs. The clue order matters. Empty space before the first or after the last run is optional unless other clues force it.
Worked example
Clues 2, 1 need at least four cells: two black, one white, one black. On a four-cell row, that arrangement is forced.
What to check on your board
Apply the rule above to your current board, then verify the remaining puzzle constraints. The example explains a local deduction; it is not a solution to every randomly generated board.
Checking your next move
Calculate the minimum space for the runs before placing them. If that minimum equals the row or column length, there is no room for extra white cells at either end. On a longer line, preserve clue order while checking which cells every legal placement would cover.
Using this reference
For Pattern / Nonogram, read the rule and the worked example together before opening the game. Separate what the rule explicitly requires from what only seems likely on the current board. A useful next move is one you can explain from the visible constraints, not merely a pattern that looks familiar.
If you get stuck, isolate a smaller part of the position and list what is still possible there. After a move, check the affected rows, regions or connections again. The reference explains the documented rules; progress, controls and save behavior belong to the linked game.
Read the developer’s manual ↗ · Open the developer’s browser version ↗
Manual inspected: · Simon Tatham & contributors · MIT