TappyPotato logic puzzles

Mechanical & physical puzzles

Huarong Dao — rules and how to start

HUARONG DAO · Klotski / Slide puzzle

Walk Cao Cao out the bottom gap; pieces only slide, never lift. The most famous sliding-block puzzle.

Origin
— · China
Difficulty
★★★★★ 2–4 / 5
Time
10–40 min
Grid
4×5
Sites
—

Rules

  1. A 4×5 board holds varied-size pieces (general, soldiers) with one empty cell.
  2. Pieces slide only into the gap; no lifting or overlap.
  3. Move the largest "Cao Cao" out the bottom exit to win.

How to start

Keep the gap mobile

Where the gap goes decides who can move; route it next to the big piece.

Clear the exit lane first

Before Cao Cao leaves, free the squares directly below him.

Use the known sequence

The classic layout has an optimal count; follow the settled routine.

Where players get stuck

  • Pushing Cao Cao while blocking his own lane behind.
  • Spending the gap on trivial pieces so the big one cannot move.

Play Huarong Dao

No dedicated site listed yet

Usually played on the big multi-puzzle sites — try the portals list.

Browse portals →

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About this page
  • Last updated 2026-09-22
  • Source Curated compilation of established puzzle rules and listed third-party play sites
  • Audience Players learning Huarong Dao rules or looking for online sites to play
  • Covers Rules summary, how to start, common pitfalls, and the dedicated play sites listed on this page
  • Does not cover Hosted puzzles, worked solutions, official contest rankings, third-party uptime or pricing guarantees
  • Not advice This page is puzzle reference content only. It does not constitute financial, legal, medical or other professional advice.
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