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Stuck on Tango? Find Your Next Move

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When you get stuck on Tango, check both directions for pairs and gaps, count each line, and follow = and × clues. If those checks stop, list the legal completions of one row or column and look for a symbol shared by every completion.

These five checkpoints come from different original Solvedle practice puzzles. They are teaching positions, not today's LinkedIn answer or an automatic solver for a board you upload. Each source puzzle has one checked solution.

What should I check before guessing?

  1. Scan columns as well as rows for two matching neighbours or a matching pair around a gap.
  2. Count suns and moons separately in each line: three of each on 6×6, four of each on 8×8.
  3. Follow signs from a known cell, then rescan the lines changed by that placement.
  4. Compare complete line patterns when local clues alone do not force a cell.

Rows are numbered top to bottom and columns left to right. R2C3 means row 2, column 3. The boards show progress already made; the source link opens the original starting puzzle. Expand the setup steps to reconstruct each checkpoint.

1. Look vertically for a sandwich

6×6 · hard practice puzzle · checkpoint after 9 deductions. The difficulty label describes the whole puzzle, not necessarily this move.

☾☀☀☀☀☾☀☀☾☾☾☾☀=×=×

Where to look: R2C3, R2C5.

The suns at R2C3, R2C5 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R2C4.

Show the board after this deduction
☾☀☀☾☀☀☾☀☀☾☾☾☾☀=×=×
Reconstruct this checkpoint from the starting clues
  1. The known moon at R5C3 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a moon at R4C3.
  2. The adjacent moons at R4C3, R5C3 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R3C3.
  3. The suns at R3C1, R3C3 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R3C2.
  4. The adjacent suns at R3C3, R3C4 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R3C5.
  5. The line R3C1, R3C2, R3C3, R3C4, R3C5, R3C6 already contains 3 suns. Every unfilled cell in it must be a moon to balance the line. Place a moon at R3C6.
  6. The adjacent suns at R2C3, R3C3 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R1C3.
  7. The adjacent moons at R4C3, R5C3 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R6C3.
  8. Every legal completion of the line R1C5, R2C5, R3C5, R4C5, R5C5, R6C5 puts a sun at R1C5. Place a sun at R1C5. Local patterns: 001011, 001101.
  9. The known sun at R1C5 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a sun at R2C5.

Play this checkpoint's source puzzle →

2. Count a whole line

6×6 · hard practice puzzle · checkpoint after 10 deductions. The difficulty label describes the whole puzzle, not necessarily this move.

☀☾☾☾☀☀☀☾☀☀☾☀☾☀☾××=×=

Where to look: R3C1, R3C2, R3C3, R3C4, R3C5, R3C6.

The line R3C1, R3C2, R3C3, R3C4, R3C5, R3C6 already contains 3 suns. Every unfilled cell in it must be a moon to balance the line. Place a moon at R3C4, R3C5.

Show the board after this deduction
☀☾☾☾☀☀☀☾☀☾☾☀☾☀☾☀☾××=×=
Reconstruct this checkpoint from the starting clues
  1. The moons at R6C4, R6C6 surround a gap. Another moon in that gap would make three consecutive moons. Place a sun at R6C5.
  2. The known sun at R3C6 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a sun at R2C6.
  3. The adjacent suns at R2C6, R3C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R1C6.
  4. The adjacent suns at R2C6, R3C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R4C6.
  5. The moons at R4C6, R6C6 surround a gap. Another moon in that gap would make three consecutive moons. Place a sun at R5C6.
  6. Every legal completion of the line R1C1, R1C2, R1C3, R1C4, R1C5, R1C6 puts a sun at R1C1. Place a sun at R1C1. Local patterns: 010011, 010101, 011001.
  7. The suns at R1C1, R3C1 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R2C1.
  8. Every legal completion of the line R3C1, R3C2, R3C3, R3C4, R3C5, R3C6 puts a moon at R3C2. Place a moon at R3C2. Local patterns: 010110.
  9. The moons at R1C2, R3C2 surround a gap. Another moon in that gap would make three consecutive moons. Place a sun at R2C2.
  10. The known moon at R3C2 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a sun at R3C3.

Play this checkpoint's source puzzle →

3. Follow an equal sign

6×6 · hard practice puzzle · checkpoint after 19 deductions. The difficulty label describes the whole puzzle, not necessarily this move.

☾☾☀☀☾☀☀☀☾☾☀☀☾☀☀☀☾☾☀☾☾☀☀☾=×××

Where to look: R1C4.

The known sun at R1C4 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a sun at R2C4.

Show the board after this deduction
☾☾☀☀☾☀☀☀☀☾☾☀☀☾☀☀☀☾☾☀☾☾☀☀☾=×××
Reconstruct this checkpoint from the starting clues
  1. The suns at R4C4, R4C6 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R4C5.
  2. The known moon at R5C3 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a sun at R4C3.
  3. The adjacent suns at R4C3, R4C4 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R4C2.
  4. The line R4C1, R4C2, R4C3, R4C4, R4C5, R4C6 already contains 3 suns. Every unfilled cell in it must be a moon to balance the line. Place a moon at R4C1.
  5. The known sun at R4C6 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a moon at R5C6.
  6. Every legal completion of the line R1C1, R2C1, R3C1, R4C1, R5C1, R6C1 puts a sun at R2C1. Place a sun at R2C1. Local patterns: 100101, 100110.
  7. Every legal completion of the line R1C1, R2C1, R3C1, R4C1, R5C1, R6C1 puts a sun at R3C1. Place a sun at R3C1. Local patterns: 100101, 100110.
  8. Every legal completion of the line R1C4, R2C4, R3C4, R4C4, R5C4, R6C4 puts a moon at R5C4. Place a moon at R5C4. Local patterns: 001011, 110010.
  9. The adjacent moons at R5C3, R5C4 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R5C2.
  10. The adjacent moons at R5C3, R5C4 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R5C5.
  11. The line R5C1, R5C2, R5C3, R5C4, R5C5, R5C6 already contains 3 moons. Every unfilled cell in it must be a sun to balance the line. Place a sun at R5C1.
  12. The line R1C1, R2C1, R3C1, R4C1, R5C1, R6C1 already contains 3 suns. Every unfilled cell in it must be a moon to balance the line. Place a moon at R6C1.
  13. Every legal completion of the line R6C1, R6C2, R6C3, R6C4, R6C5, R6C6 puts a sun at R6C2. Place a sun at R6C2. Local patterns: 100101, 101001.
  14. Every legal completion of the line R6C1, R6C2, R6C3, R6C4, R6C5, R6C6 puts a sun at R6C5. Place a sun at R6C5. Local patterns: 100101, 101001.
  15. Every legal completion of the line R1C2, R2C2, R3C2, R4C2, R5C2, R6C2 puts a moon at R1C2. Place a moon at R1C2. Local patterns: 101100, 110100.
  16. The adjacent moons at R1C1, R1C2 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R1C3.
  17. Every legal completion of the line R1C1, R1C2, R1C3, R1C4, R1C5, R1C6 puts a sun at R1C6. Place a sun at R1C6. Local patterns: 110010, 110100.
  18. Every legal completion of the line R1C5, R2C5, R3C5, R4C5, R5C5, R6C5 puts a moon at R1C5. Place a moon at R1C5. Local patterns: 101100, 110100.
  19. The line R1C1, R1C2, R1C3, R1C4, R1C5, R1C6 already contains 3 moons. Every unfilled cell in it must be a sun to balance the line. Place a sun at R1C4.

Play this checkpoint's source puzzle →

4. Follow an opposite sign

6×6 · hard practice puzzle · checkpoint after 12 deductions. The difficulty label describes the whole puzzle, not necessarily this move.

☀☾☾☀☾☀☾☀☾☀☾☀☀☀☾===×=

Where to look: R3C5.

The known sun at R3C5 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a moon at R2C5.

Show the board after this deduction
☀☾☾☾☀☾☀☾☀☾☀☾☀☀☀☾===×=
Reconstruct this checkpoint from the starting clues
  1. The suns at R4C4, R4C6 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R4C5.
  2. Every legal completion of the line R1C4, R2C4, R3C4, R4C4, R5C4, R6C4 puts a sun at R1C4. Place a sun at R1C4. Local patterns: 011001, 011010.
  3. Every legal completion of the line R1C1, R1C2, R1C3, R1C4, R1C5, R1C6 puts a moon at R1C5. Place a moon at R1C5. Local patterns: 001011, 110010.
  4. Every legal completion of the line R1C4, R2C4, R3C4, R4C4, R5C4, R6C4 puts a moon at R2C4. Place a moon at R2C4. Local patterns: 011001, 011010.
  5. The known moon at R2C4 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a moon at R3C4.
  6. Every legal completion of the line R1C5, R2C5, R3C5, R4C5, R5C5, R6C5 puts a sun at R5C5. Place a sun at R5C5. Local patterns: 101100, 110100.
  7. The known sun at R5C5 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a sun at R5C6.
  8. The adjacent suns at R5C5, R5C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R5C4.
  9. The line R1C4, R2C4, R3C4, R4C4, R5C4, R6C4 already contains 3 moons. Every unfilled cell in it must be a sun to balance the line. Place a sun at R6C4.
  10. The adjacent suns at R4C6, R5C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R3C6.
  11. The moons at R3C4, R3C6 surround a gap. Another moon in that gap would make three consecutive moons. Place a sun at R3C5.
  12. The adjacent suns at R4C6, R5C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R6C6.

Play this checkpoint's source puzzle →

5. Compare all legal line completions

8×8 · hard practice puzzle · checkpoint after 16 deductions. The difficulty label describes the whole puzzle, not necessarily this move.

☾☀☾☾☾☀☀☾☀☾☀☀☾☾☀☾☾☀☀☾☾☀☀☾☀☾☀===×=××=

Where to look: R6C1, R6C2, R6C3, R6C4, R6C5, R6C6, R6C7, R6C8.

Every legal completion of the line R6C1, R6C2, R6C3, R6C4, R6C5, R6C6, R6C7, R6C8 puts a sun at R6C4. Place a sun at R6C4.

Write sun as 0 and moon as 1. Read the line in the coordinate order above. A legal pattern must match filled cells and signs within this line, have half of each symbol and contain no 000 or 111. These are local possibilities, not necessarily full-board solutions.

Every surviving local pattern
Line completionForced cell
00101101R6C4 = sun
11001001R6C4 = sun
11001100R6C4 = sun
Show the board after this deduction
☾☀☾☾☾☀☀☾☀☾☀☀☾☾☀☾☀☾☀☀☾☾☀☀☾☀☾☀===×=××=
Reconstruct this checkpoint from the starting clues
  1. The adjacent moons at R1C7, R2C7 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R3C7.
  2. The known moon at R5C5 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a moon at R5C6.
  3. The adjacent moons at R5C5, R5C6 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R5C4.
  4. The adjacent moons at R5C5, R5C6 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R5C7.
  5. The line R5C1, R5C2, R5C3, R5C4, R5C5, R5C6, R5C7, R5C8 already contains 4 moons. Every unfilled cell in it must be a sun to balance the line. Place a sun at R5C1, R5C3.
  6. The suns at R3C7, R5C7 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R4C7.
  7. The known moon at R5C5 is joined to the unfilled cell by =. The two symbols must match. Place a moon at R6C5.
  8. The adjacent moons at R5C5, R6C5 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R4C5.
  9. The suns at R2C5, R4C5 surround a gap. Another sun in that gap would make three consecutive suns. Place a moon at R3C5.
  10. The adjacent moons at R5C5, R6C5 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R7C5.
  11. The known moon at R8C6 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a sun at R7C6.
  12. The adjacent suns at R7C5, R7C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R7C4.
  13. The adjacent moons at R7C3, R7C4 cannot be extended by a third moon. Place a sun at R7C2.
  14. The adjacent suns at R7C5, R7C6 cannot be extended by a third sun. Place a moon at R7C7.
  15. The line R1C7, R2C7, R3C7, R4C7, R5C7, R6C7, R7C7, R8C7 already contains 4 moons. Every unfilled cell in it must be a sun to balance the line. Place a sun at R6C7, R8C7.
  16. The known moon at R7C4 is joined to the unfilled cell by ×. The symbols must differ. Place a sun at R8C4.

Play this checkpoint's source puzzle →

What if no move seems possible?

A board with no immediate red conflict can still contain an earlier wrong move. Undo unsupported placements and reconstruct the last step you can explain. Do not require distinct rows or columns: that is a classic Takuzu rule, not a Tango rule. A line pattern being possible does not mean it is correct; only cells shared by every surviving pattern are forced.

For a full beginner solve, follow the 6×6 Tango walkthrough. For more advanced reasoning, see hard Tango line deductions. Read how we check uniqueness and logical solvability.

Rules and example sources

These diagrams and setup steps were rebuilt from Solvedle's released practice boards and checked against their unique solutions. Compare the official Tango rules. Solvedle is independent of LinkedIn.