Pipes Strategy: 5 Techniques

Pipes is deduction, not trial and error. Each settled piece fixes its neighbours. New here? Read the rules first.

1. Corners, then edges

A corner has two inside neighbours only. A straight piece in a corner is impossible; a corner piece has one orientation; an end piece has two. Edge pieces can't point outward either, which usually settles T-pieces at once.

2. End pieces point at something

An end piece has one opening, and it must meet an opening. If only one neighbour can offer one, the end piece is decided.

3. Grow from the source

The lit region shows what's connected. Settle the pieces touching it: each one must take water from the lit side and pass it on where a neighbour can accept it.

4. No loops

If turning a piece would close a loop, that orientation is wrong. The tree has exactly one path between any two pieces.

5. Count across a line

Draw a line between two rows. The openings crossing it from above must equal the openings crossing from below. When the count doesn't balance, a piece on one side still needs turning.

Last updated 2026-10-20