Play Tangram Shape Match Online

Traditional tangrams use seven flat pieces called tans. This browser challenge presents the two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, a square and a parallelogram as outlined slots. Choose a tan, rotate or flip it, and match its shape and orientation to an opening. The reflected parallelogram makes the last placement different from simply turning a triangle.

1. Look at the numbered outlines and the seven tan buttons below the board.
2. Choose a tan; pieces of the same size may fit either corresponding outline.
3. Use Rotate 90° to turn it in quarter turns.
4. Use Flip when the target calls for a mirror image, especially for the parallelogram.
5. Click an outline to test the shape and orientation.
6. Fit all seven pieces to finish. Reset returns all pieces to the tray.
7. Look at the seven outlines before picking a piece. The two large triangles share a size, and the two small triangles share another size. The other three pieces each have their own shape. This version uses separate numbered targets, so focus on orientation matching rather than trying to construct a freeform animal or house silhouette.
8. The outlined targets make this a focused exercise in recognizing a piece after a turn or reflection. Check piece size first: a large triangle cannot fill a small triangle slot. Then compare its angle with the target. For the parallelogram, flip as well as rotate. If your choice fails, the piece stays in the tray, and you can adjust it without losing progress.

• This edition is an outlined shape-matching challenge with the seven standard tangram piece types.
• Large triangles match large-triangle slots and small triangles match small-triangle slots.
• The target orientation and mirror state must match before a piece can be placed.
• Each tan fills one slot and cannot be used twice.
• A rotation changes the direction in which a tan points, while a flip creates its mirror image. The parallelogram especially benefits from this distinction: rotating it alone cannot reproduce its reflected target. The board records the current turn in degrees and whether the tan is mirrored. A piece that fails to fit remains available for another attempt.

• Start with the two large triangles to learn which quarter turn each outline needs.
• Triangle pieces of a matching size are interchangeable; use that to test an orientation.
• Read the angle display after each rotation rather than guessing visually.
• A square looks unchanged after a quarter turn, but the target still specifies its orientation in this version.
• Flip the parallelogram before attempting its mirrored outline.

• Pentomino Fill: Compare how a related puzzle uses regions, paths or tile placement.
• Sliding Puzzle: Compare how a related puzzle uses regions, paths or tile placement.
• Lits: Compare how a related puzzle uses regions, paths or tile placement.

• Seven pieces give the challenge a clear beginning and end.
• Rotation and reflection practice translates to larger tangram silhouettes.
• Real tangram play involves spatial rotation and reflection of seven pieces. This outlined exercise isolates those operations, making it a warm-up for a full silhouette puzzle. Because every target remains visible, you can inspect the visual difference between mirror and rotation without guessing where a piece belongs on a blank canvas.

Play Tangram free in your browser. Start the interactive board above, use its on-screen controls and check the rules below when a deduction gets stuck. No download or account is needed.

Try another round of Tangram on the board above. Start with the most constrained part of the grid, test each move against the stated rules, and use the reset control to try a new approach.

• Tangram history and seven-piece geometry