Easy Guide to Solving Sudoku Like a Pro
Sudoku is one of the most famous logical puzzles in the world, known for its deductive element and fun flow. Although people have been playing it for years, there is still so much to learn about its strategies and tricks.
This guide is designed to simplify sudoku-solving. It offers smart techniques and strategies to help players improve their skills and solve puzzles with confidence. Both beginners looking to learn and seasoned players aiming to refine their approach will benefit from it, as it covers both basic and advanced methods.
Who Was the First to Solve Sudoku?
The origins of Sudoku are often traced to 1984 when it was introduced and popularized in Japan by Maki Kaji, president of the Nikoli puzzle company. However, Howard Garns, an architect from Connersville, Indiana, is known as the person who designed the game first.
It was published in 1979 by Dell Magazines under the name of “Number Place.” Still, Nikoli company helped the game spread all around the world, catching people’s attention and interest.
Beginner's Guide
Sudoku is a fun and satisfying challenge for players, although it may seem confusing at first. Understanding the main steps and strategies can help even beginners to feel confident when tackling their first puzzle.
1. Understand the Rules
A standard Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid, which is divided into smaller 3x3 grids called “regions” or “boxes.” The player’s goal is to fill the grid with numbers from 1 to 9. The player has to ensure each number only appears once in every column, row, and region.
2. Start With Easy Numbers
Some digits are already pre-filled in the grid. They serve as clues for the player to fill in the others. Some numbers are easier to determine, and a good rule of thumb is to start with them. First, scan the whole grid and see which regions are easier to fill in.
3. Apply Logical Thinking
Sudoku is a puzzle, a logical game. This means that instead of guessing the fitting numbers, you should use deduction to determine them. There are some techniques to help with it:
- Scanning the grid for obvious choices;
- Cross-hatching – eliminating unlikely options for some cells;
- Penciling in the possible numbers in empty cells for more difficult levels.
Strategies for Solving Any Sudoku Puzzle
There are several advanced techniques for experienced players. They are especially handy when solving medium to hard puzzles.
- Some argue that the X-Wing strategy is the most basic one. It consists of recognizing patterns across rows and columns. When the same candidate number appears twice in two separate rows and aligns in a rectangular shape, then that number must occupy one of those positions. As a result, you can eliminate any other occurrences of that number in the affected columns.
- Swordfish is sometimes called the extended X-Wing strategy. It works similarly but involves three rows and columns instead of two. If a certain number appears in only three possible places across three different rows and aligns in three columns, then those must be the only valid placements. You can eliminate that number from other positions in those columns.
- A Naked Pair (also Triplet or Quad) occurs in a column, row, or region if two or more cells contain the same set of possible candidates. In this case, all other occurrences of these numbers within the same region, column, or row can be discarded.
- A Hidden Single occurs when there is only one possible cell for one candidate digit. It may not be easy to spot such cells, but if you see them, it becomes a lot easier to determine which other numbers to fill in surrounding cells.
Strategies like these can speed up the game and make it even more satisfying.
Take the Challenge: Solve a Sudoku Now!
Now that you’ve learned all the necessary strategies, it's time to put them to the test! Sudoku is all about practice, so the more games you play, the easier it will get. Here are a few places where you can test your skills online:
Each one of them contains hints and tips to guide you along the game. Happy playing!
