Takuzu and Binairo
Takuzu, Binairo, binary puzzle, Tango: four names for, at heart, a single logic game. Here is where this puzzle comes from, what truly sets its variants apart, and how to play free at every size, in whichever style speaks to you.
The origins: Takuzu and Binairo
The binary puzzle has been popular in logic puzzle books since the 2000s, well before LinkedIn Tango arrived. In France, it is known as Takuzu. In Belgium, the name Binairo dominates, popularized in particular by grids published by Peeters. Two labels, two markets, but a single mechanic: a grid filled with two symbols, traditionally zeros and ones, where every row and column must hold exactly half of each digit, never three identical ones in a row.
The generic English term, binary puzzle, names exactly the same family and circulates across international apps and websites. Whether you search for Takuzu, Binairo or binary puzzle, you land on grids that all obey the same counting logic and three-in-a-row rule, with or without digits depending on the chosen skin.
From Takuzu to Tango
In October 2024, LinkedIn picked up this mechanic for its suite of daily games and named it Tango. The skin changes: zeros and ones become suns and moons, visually clearer, and the game generally adds = and × clues between some neighboring cells, an extra deduction layer rarely found in classic Takuzu or Binairo grids. The underlying rule, though, stays rigorously identical: perfect balance per row and column, never three identical symbols in a row.
In other words, if you already master Takuzu or Binairo, you already know how to play Tango: all you are missing is reading the = and × signs, a skill picked up in just a few grids.
The micro-differences, in a table
Here is what practically sets a classic Takuzu or Binairo grid apart from a LinkedIn-style Tango grid.
| Aspect | Classic Takuzu / Binairo | Tango (LinkedIn) |
|---|---|---|
| Common names | Takuzu (France), Binairo (Belgium, published by Peeters), binary puzzle | Tango (LinkedIn, since October 2024) |
| = and × clues | Usually none: pure counting and the three-in-a-row rule | Present between some neighboring cells |
| Pre-filled cells | Often more, especially on beginner grids | Fewer, to keep the daily puzzle short |
| Typical sizes | Varied, often larger in puzzle books and apps | One fixed 6x6 format on LinkedIn |
| Core rule | Half of each symbol per row and column, never three in a row | The exact same rule |
Why our grids cover both styles
Whether you came looking for Tango, Takuzu or Binairo, you will find the same underlying rule here, honest and without exception: half suns, half moons, never three in a row, always a single solution. Our 6x6 format reproduces exactly the daily rhythm of LinkedIn Tango, = and × clues included. Our 8x8 and 10x10 formats, meanwhile, join the scale of classic Takuzu and Binairo grids found in puzzle books and some dedicated apps: more cells, more counting, a real logic challenge over the long run.
You therefore do not have to choose between the two worlds. Our page vocabulary, suns and moons, follows Tango, but the logic taught in our rules and techniques transfers directly to any Takuzu or Binairo grid you come across elsewhere, on paper or online.
Go further
Discovering the rules for the first time? Our dedicated page details them point by point, clues included. Coming from the LinkedIn game instead and want a detailed comparison? Our LinkedIn Tango page makes that comparison. And to place this puzzle in time, from the 2000s logic puzzle book to today's screen, head to our history page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Takuzu the same game as Tango?
Yes. Takuzu, Binairo and Tango all belong to the same binary puzzle family: balance two symbols on every row and column, never three identical ones in a row. Tango is simply the name LinkedIn gave its own daily version of the puzzle, usually adding = and × clues between some cells.
What is the difference between Takuzu and Binairo?
They are largely the same puzzle under two names. Takuzu is the name commonly used in France, while Binairo is the name used in Belgium, notably by the publisher Peeters. Both apply the identical core rule: half suns, half moons (or half zeros, half ones on number-based versions), never three in a row.
Can I play Takuzu online for free?
Yes. Our grids apply the exact same core rule as Takuzu and Binairo, in the visual style of Tango, and are entirely free with no sign-up. Choose the 6x6 for the LinkedIn-style daily format, or move up to 8x8 and 10x10 for larger, more classic binary puzzle sizes.
Why do some grids have = and × signs and others do not?
The core binary puzzle rule (balance and no triple) never needs any sign to be solvable, which is exactly how classic Takuzu and Binairo grids work. The = and × clues are an extra layer that Tango popularized: they give an additional, independent source of deduction on top of the same base rule.