How to Play Diagonal Sudoku
Both main diagonals must also contain 1–9
The Rules
Standard Sudoku rules apply: fill every row, column, and 3×3 box with the digits 1–9, each appearing exactly once.
In Diagonal Sudoku, the standard 9×9 rules apply — but with one powerful extra constraint: both main diagonals (top-left to bottom-right, and top-right to bottom-left) must each contain every digit from 1 to 9 exactly once. This extra constraint typically makes the puzzle easier to solve since diagonals act as two extra units for elimination.
At a Glance
How to Solve Diagonal Sudoku
Common Questions
What is Diagonal Sudoku? ▾
Diagonal Sudoku adds two extra constraints on top of standard Sudoku: both main diagonals of the 9×9 grid must each contain the digits 1–9 exactly once. This means every cell on either diagonal belongs to four uniqueness groups simultaneously: its row, column, box, and diagonal.
Which cells are on the diagonals? ▾
The main diagonals run from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner, and from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner. Together they cover 17 cells (the centre cell is on both). Any cell at position (r, c) is on a diagonal if r equals c or if r + c equals 10 (using 1-based numbering).
How does the diagonal constraint help solving? ▾
Diagonal cells carry four constraints instead of the usual three, making them the most restricted cells on the board. Whenever you place a digit anywhere on a diagonal, it eliminates that digit from the entire row, column, box, and the diagonal simultaneously — often triggering a cascade of placements.
Is Diagonal Sudoku harder than regular Sudoku? ▾
At easy difficulty, Diagonal Sudoku is actually easier than equivalent classic Sudoku because the extra constraints eliminate more candidates immediately. At hard and expert levels, the diagonal interactions create subtler deductions that experienced players find more challenging to spot.
Can I solve Diagonal Sudoku using standard techniques? ▾
Yes — all standard Sudoku techniques (naked pairs, hidden singles, pointing pairs, X-Wings, etc.) apply. You simply treat each diagonal as an additional house. The most important habit is scanning both diagonals after every placement, the same way you scan rows, columns, and boxes.
How long does Diagonal Sudoku take to solve? ▾
Easy puzzles take 5–12 minutes — often faster than equivalent classic puzzles because of the extra constraints. Medium puzzles run 12–25 minutes. Hard and expert puzzles can take 30–70 minutes depending on how heavily the diagonal interactions need to be exploited.