Tricolor can be treated as a puzzle or as a pastime.

The basic idea is very simple, and the mode of play is similar to some other related games. There are tiles of three different colours, red, white and blue, and these are positioned in an initial layout in the frame. These will naturally form variably-shaped blocks of tiles of the same colour - tiles connected to each other horizontally or vertically. When you press on a tile, this tile, together with all others in its block, are removed from the frame. Any tiles above the removed tiles fall down vertically onto the remaining tiles (or the base of the frame if there are no other tiles).

Tricolor differs from related games in that it has a clear objective: to remove all the tiles except for three in the central three columns - one of each colour (no specific order). These tiles then form a tricolor at the bottom of the frame (the three columns above the black bar under the frame).

You can, of course, also treat Tricolor as a simple pastime, and just enjoy making the tiles collapse.

Starting

When the page first opens, tiles are put into the frame in an initial layout. Just press on any of the coloured tiles to select a block of connected tiles to remove (possibly just one tile). You will see the tiles in the selected block greyed out, and then any tiles no longer having any support will be re-displayed in their new positions after they have fallen down.

Rewind

If you make some moves, but realize that you've made a mistake, press on the < button to go back one move. You can continue doing this until you are back to the starting layout.

Solve

If you can't solve the puzzle, or wish to see the computer's solution, press on the Solve button at any time. The starting layout will be displayed and you will then see each move made automatically by the computer until the tricolor is reached.

Note: There is always a solution available, as the initial layout is derived by starting from a central tricolor and working backwards. This solution will generally be one of many, and may not be the most efficient.

Note: Because of the way the tiles are inserted into the frame to create the initial layout, working back from the final tricolor, it is possible, but unlikely, that there will be some blanks at the top of some columns in the initial layout.

Note: Once you have pressed the Solve button, the < button will not work until you have a new layout. You can press the New button to start again with a new layout at any time, even while a solution is being shown.

New Game

A new layout, and hence a new puzzle, may be generated at any time by pressing on the New button.

Tricolor is an original puzzle devised by Dr. David Wolstenholme

Terms of use

This software may be used for personal purposes only.  It may not be used for commercial purposes.

The software, code and script of this application may not be copied or be distributed to others.

The software, code and script may not be altered in any way.

Copyright of the software, code and script, and its help documentation, is held by TopAccolades Limited.  No part of the software, code, script or documentation may be copied or used in another application or document.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that this software functions as intended, TopAccolades Limited provides no warranty of merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, in relation to this application or its support.

TopAccolades Limited shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or inability to use this application or the provision of or failure to provide support.

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www.topaccolades.com

Version: 3.0 (20170327)
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