Sudoku Blog
Strategy guides, history, brain science, and tips for every level.
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Exploring the Concept of Locked Candidates and Claiming Strategies
Locked candidates is one of the most powerful intermediate techniques — and one of the first you'll need after mastering pairs. Here is how it works and how to find it fast.
Read ArticleHow to Recognize Hidden Triples and Quads in Expert Puzzles
Hidden Triples and Quads are among the most useful — and most overlooked — techniques in advanced Sudoku. Here is how to spot them before they spot you.
Using Conjugate Pairs and Strong Links to Break Tough Grids
Conjugate pairs and strong links are the building blocks of advanced Sudoku chains. Understanding them is the gateway to solving Expert and beyond.
How to Spot Y Wing and W Wing Patterns in Expert Sudoku
Y-Wing and W-Wing are chain-based techniques that let you eliminate candidates from cells that seem unrelated to each other. Here is how to find them in a real grid.
Identifying Unique Rectangles and Avoiding Multiple Solutions
Unique Rectangles are a technique that turns Sudoku's 'one solution' guarantee into an elimination tool. Here is how to find them and use them correctly.
How to Teach Sudoku to Kids Using Simple Grids and Colors
Teaching Sudoku to children works best with smaller grids, color-coded symbols, and a focus on the elimination principle rather than the full 9×9 rule. Here is the step-by-step approach.
Advanced Logic for Tackling Diabolical and Nightmare Puzzles
Diabolical and Nightmare Sudoku puzzles require techniques beyond pairs and locked candidates. Here is the toolbox you need and how to apply it systematically.
How to Identify and Use Skyscraper and XY Wing Patterns
Skyscraper and XY-Wing are two of the most powerful intermediate techniques in Sudoku. Here is how to spot them and what eliminations they allow.
The Strategy for Solving Medium Difficulty Sudoku Puzzles
Medium Sudoku requires more than scanning — but not as much as most players think. Here is the complete strategy to crack Medium puzzles every time.
Effective Ways to Eliminate Candidates and Narrow Your Choices
Candidate elimination is the core skill in Sudoku. Every technique — from basic scanning to advanced chains — is just a more powerful way to eliminate impossible digits from cells.
How to Fill the First Three Rows of Sudoku Using Logic
The top three rows of a Sudoku grid form the top band — and solving them correctly creates a cascade that makes the rest of the puzzle flow faster. Here is the logical approach.
How to Start a Sudoku Puzzle the Right Way Every Time
The first moves you make in a Sudoku puzzle set the pace for everything that follows. Here is the right starting sequence to find early wins and avoid wasted effort.