Medium Outside Sudoku

Clues outside the grid give the first three digits encountered in that row or column — but not their order.

Easy Medium Hard Expert

Outside Sudoku at medium difficulty. Multiple border clues per row interact with box uniqueness — you'll need both edge logic and standard Sudoku technique.

96
34
72
62
71
85
57
64
38
65
78
29
54
29
83
64
73
98
6
5
3
8
3
9
3
4
8
6
8
1
8
7
5
2
9
2
6
1
5
7
5
4
9
1
8
9
7
5
2
6
13
42
87
73
54
21
95
12
43
74
28
63
41
85
36
98
27
51
Mistakes
0/3
Score
-
Time
00:00
Try Hard Outside Sudoku →
Progress0%

What is Outside Sudoku?

Difficulty
★★★☆☆
3/5
Constraint Type
Outside Clues
Typical Givens
28–36 given + 4×9 outside clues
Avg. Solve (Medium)
18 min

Solving Techniques for Medium Level

Technique Description Level
Clue-Zone Mapping Each outside digit must appear in the nearest 3 cells of its row or column. Map all outside clues to their zones immediately. Beginner
Cross-Side Reasoning If left clue digit X must be in cols 1–3, and right clue digit X is in the same row, that row already places X — the other side confirms its column. Intermediate
Box-Side Interaction An outside clue for a row interacts with the box containing cols 1–3. If the row's box is heavily constrained, the outside digit's position may be forced. Intermediate
Digit Elimination from Clues When a clue digit is placed in the zone, eliminate it from the rest of the zone row/col using standard Sudoku logic. Intermediate

Master these, then take on Hard Outside Sudoku to learn Advanced techniques.

Techniques to Master at Medium

  • Hidden Singles technique — Window membership is elimination fuel: a digit claimed by a clue window can't sit elsewhere in those three columns of that band, surfacing hidden singles in the adjacent boxes.
  • Obvious Pairs technique — Two clue digits forced into the same two cells of a window form a pair that clears the window's third cell — the signature medium move in Outside Sudoku.

Average Solve Time by Difficulty

Easy
8 min
Medium
18 min
Hard
36 min
Expert
65 min
Want a full walkthrough of rules, strategies, and solving steps? How to Play Outside Sudoku →

Related Variants

Skyscraper Sudoku

The next step in border-clue logic — outside numbers become visibility counts that constrain entire row orderings.

Sandwich Sudoku

Border clues with arithmetic teeth: each one is the sum of the digits trapped between 1 and 9.

Killer Sudoku

Moves the clue layer inside the grid as summed cages — a natural graduation from window placement to sum deduction.

Frequently Asked Questions — Medium Outside Sudoku

What techniques help most in medium Outside Sudoku?
At medium level, look for rows or columns where outside clues eliminate all but one placement for each clue digit. Combine this with standard hidden singles and naked pairs inside the grid. The interaction between border clues and box constraints is the core technique.
What happens when a row has clues on both the left and right?
Left-side clues restrict columns 1–3 and right-side clues restrict columns 7–9. If those sets of clues together account for most or all of a row's required digits, you can often deduce what must go in the middle three cells (columns 4–6) using standard uniqueness.
Can two outside clues on the same side of a row be in the same cell?
No. Each cell holds exactly one digit. If a row has two left-side clues, those two digits must occupy two of the three cells in columns 1–3, leaving only one cell for whatever other digit belongs in that zone.
How long does medium Outside Sudoku take?
Most players finish medium Outside Sudoku in 12–25 minutes. The solving pace picks up once you develop intuition for how border clues interact with box uniqueness.
Do the outside clues tell me the order of digits within the three-cell zone?
No. A left-side clue only tells you the digit appears somewhere in cells 1–3 of that row — it doesn't tell you which of the three cells contains it. You have to use Sudoku logic to determine the exact position.

More questions? See the full Outside Sudoku guide.