Rules & objective
Fit all seven shapes into the outlined square.
- Select a piece, then drag it or move it with the direction controls. Rotate 45° changes the selected piece’s orientation by one eighth-turn.
- A piece locks into place when it is close to its assigned target position and has the required orientation. All seven must lock to finish.
- Easy starts with three pieces already placed. Medium allows optional guides; Hard uses a rotated arrangement and disables piece guides.
Key terms
- Target
- The outlined square and the assigned piece positions inside it.
- Snap
- A correctly positioned and oriented piece locking into place.
- Guide
- An outline showing where an individual piece belongs.
Difficulty levels
| Level | What changes |
|---|---|
| Easy | Three pieces placed for you, visible guides, and pieces already facing the right way. |
| Medium | Place all seven pieces. Rotate by 45°; guides are available. |
| Hard | All seven pieces start rotated. Solve a rotated layout without piece guides. |
Changing difficulty starts a fresh round. Personal bests are tracked separately.
This version on puzzle free online
Numbered piece buttons provide an alternative to dragging. Keyboard arrows move the selected piece and R rotates it. This version checks each numbered piece’s assigned position, so a visually plausible alternate arrangement may not count. The seven pieces keep their size: rotate and move them rather than stretching them. There is no animal-silhouette catalogue in this version.
Common questions
Can I flip a piece over?
There is no flip control. Use rotation and the supplied orientation of each piece.
Why does a piece look right but not snap?
Check its assigned position and angle. On Easy or Medium, guides can clarify the intended placement; a similar-looking triangle may belong elsewhere.
How many shapes are in a tangram puzzle?
There are seven pieces in three shape families: five triangles, one square and one parallelogram. The triangles come in three sizes: two large, one medium and two small.
Is a tangram the same as a jigsaw puzzle?
No. A tangram builds a target with seven geometric pieces. A picture jigsaw is assembled from interlocking pieces that restore an image. This game is the seven-piece shape puzzle.
Explore this game in a new way
Put the rules into practice.
Use the companion guide for a worked example, strategy and a small practice challenge.
Read the Tangram guide ↗Browse all wiki articles