💡 Sudoku Solving Tips

Level up your solving skills with proven strategies and real examples.

🔍 Essential Techniques

🎯

Single Candidate

Scan each empty cell and fill it when only one number can fit.

Example: If a row, column, and box already contain 1–8, the remaining cell must be 9.
📊

Elimination

Remove candidates that already appear in the same row, column, or box.

Example: If a row already has 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, remaining cells can only use 2, 4, 6, 8.
🔢

Hidden Single

Sometimes a number can only appear once in a row, column, or box.

Example: If 5 only fits one cell within a box, place it even if that cell has other notes.

🚀 Intermediate Techniques

🎭

Naked Pair

Two cells share the same two candidates, so remove those numbers elsewhere in the unit.

Example: If two cells can only be 3 or 7, eliminate 3 and 7 from other cells in that row.
🔍

Hidden Pair

Two digits can only appear in two specific cells, locking them into those spots.

Example: If 2 and 8 only fit in two cells of a row, remove other notes from those cells.
🎪

Naked Triple

Three cells share three candidates, blocking those numbers in the rest of the unit.

Example: If three cells only allow 1, 4, and 6, no other cell in that unit can use 1, 4, or 6.

🏆 Advanced Techniques

🕸️

X-Wing

If a digit appears in the same two columns across two rows, eliminate that digit from the other rows in those columns.

Example: When 5 only fits columns 3 and 8 in rows 2 and 7, remove 5 from other rows in columns 3 and 8.
🦈

Swordfish

A three-row, three-column extension of the X-Wing technique.

Example: If digit 2 is confined to three matching columns across three rows, remove 2 from other cells in those columns.
🎨

Unique Rectangle

Four cells form a rectangle with the same two candidates. Use logic to prevent deadly patterns.

Example: If four cells in a rectangle only hold 1 and 3, adjust candidates to avoid duplicate solutions.

💪 Practice Advice

📚

Start Simple

Begin with easy puzzles, build confidence, then climb to tougher levels.

⏰

Be Patient

Sudoku rewards calm logic. Avoid hints until you've explored every option.

📝

Use Notes

Mark candidates to expose patterns and relationships between cells.

🔄

Shift Perspectives

Analyze a cell from row, column, and box angles to uncover hidden clues.

🎯

Practice Daily

Consistent play improves speed, accuracy, and pattern recognition.

🎮 Solving Strategies

1. Scanning

Quickly scan the grid to spot obvious placements before diving deeper.

2. Systematic Digits

Work through each number 1–9 and identify where it can legally go.

3. Box Focus

Choose a 3×3 box and analyze which digits are missing from it.

4. Cross-Checking

Use intersecting rows and columns to confirm or eliminate candidates.

5. Hypothesis Testing

When stuck, make a logical assumption and follow its consequences to confirm or reject it.

📄 Page Overview

The Sudoku Solving Tips page on SudokuFun.org gathers essential, intermediate, and expert-level techniques in one place. Each method includes an easy-to-understand explanation, a real example, and supportive practice advice so you can progress from beginner to pro.