Sudoku, Tips/Tricks for all levels

What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is, simply put, a logic puzzle. Originally created under the name of "Number Place" by Howard Garns, later being rebranded as "Sudoku" in the 1980's. The puzzle was originally created for the unique placements of the numbers one to nine, variations can include other numbers, letters, or symbols. The sudoku board is a 9x9 grid of squares (or cells) subdivided into 9 columns, rows, and boxes. The rules for the puzzle are quite simple, you must fill each cell with a unique symbol from each other cell in the same row, column, and box. while the rules are not complicated, Sudoku can be a very difficult and rewarding challenge to overcome

Sudoku board, 9x9 grid of cells.

The Basics

When beginning your first couple Sudokus, it is recommended to begin with some puzzles that requires no advanced tactics. You shouldn't need to look up an X or Y wing (No, we arent talking about Star Wars.) to figure your way through your first time. simple moves and basic pencil marking should be all you need, and we can talk about some of those here such as:

Lone Single

the last possible location a number could go, your most basic move. an example of this:

a row of a sudoku grid, with all but a single number filled out
When all the numbers are filled in a row, column, or box except one, go ahead and fill the cell with the missing number

Naked Single

the last candidate for a cell after removing pencil marks.

Sudoku grid showing a Naked Single
9 is the last number that can go in the selected cell, you can fill in the cell with 9

Hidden Single

the single location a number can go in a row, column, or box without it being the only candidate for the cell. The name "hidden" refers to the digit being hidden by other non-candidates.

Sudoku grid of a hidden single
while the selected cell has both 8 and 9 pencil marked, 9 can not go into any other space. fill in the cell with 9

Naked Pair

A naked pair is the last possible location a pair could go in a row, coloumn, or box. Allowing you to remove any pencil marks of the pair in the row, column, or box it resides in,

Sudoku grid showing a grid where two cells are marked as needing to have the same pair
the only two digits that can go into the highlighted cells are 5,6. we know 5 and 6 cant go into any other cell in the same row, column, or box