Sudoku Tips and Strategies
Good techniques help you solve harder puzzles systematically.
Solve systematically
Start with naked singles: if a cell has only one possible digit, place it. With hidden singles, a digit can fit in only one position in a row, column or box.
- Start with rows, columns and boxes with many givens.
- Use pencil marks to list possible candidates.
- Find naked and hidden singles before looking for more complex patterns.
A well-formed Sudoku never requires guessing if all necessary logical strategies are known. Very difficult puzzles may demand long reasoning chains.