Therefore, the purple-marked cells cannot be 7 anymore. Then the cell (6,8) containing 2 & 7 must be 7 because they are in the same sub-grid.If the cell number (4,4), i.e., Row 4 & Column 4 (containing 5 & 7) becomes 5, then cell number (4,7) (containing 2 & 5) must be 2,.Here you can dismiss the number candidate 7 from the purple marked cells because: With the help of the puzzle image below, you can learn the Sudoku tricks involved in the XY-Wing technique. Thus, the 8 marked with a cross can be eliminated as a candidate. No matter what the result is, the X-wing technique suggests that the number 8 cannot be a candidate in the rows connecting to the base pattern. So, if the two 8 connected by the line are true, the other 8 pair connected by the dotted line is false and vice-versa. Since these 4 cells are by column and row, you can apply the X-wing Sudoku trick. In the above image, let’s assume that the number 8 has only two possible solutions out of the ones marked at the end of the axis in yellow. To apply this technique, you need to find 2 rows and 2 columns where a single digit is a candidate in only two cells of each. It is a straightforward technique that focuses on one single digit, and its goal is to restrict the number of cells that can have that number as a possible candidate. X-Wing sudoku trick is for medium to hard difficulty level puzzles.

Because of that, you can dismiss all other candidates marked in green cells so that only the 4s and 6s are left. Thus you can understand that these two candidates have to be in those two-column boxes. However, candidate 4 and 6 is not there in the rest of the 3×3 space. They are both in the same column and have numbers 4 and 6 as potential candidates. Let’s have a look at the two cells that contain green-marked candidates. Still, it affects the cells containing the candidates, i.e., instead of dismissing numbers from other cells, this technique dismisses other numbers from the paired cells themselves. The Hidden pair Sudoku trick is very similar to the Naked pair.

This technique can also be used for three (Triplet) or four (Quad) candidate numbers. Now, because in one of the two boxes (number marked in green), you must have a 2, and in the other a 3 (or vice-versa), you can conclude that there cannot be any 2s or 3s in the same column, row, or square, and thus you can dismiss them. Look at the 3×3 square at the bottom right corner, marked by possible candidates. Let’s look at the Sudoku puzzle in the example given below: If two cells in the same block, row, or column can have only the same pair of candidates, then we can dismiss them from all the other cells in the same block, row, or column. Most of the techniques used to solve Sudoku puzzles work by eliminating candidates. So, you have to apply several Sudoku tricks & techniques to tackle these challenges and solve the puzzle.īefore we move on to the sudoku techniques, you must know what a Candidate is in Sudoku? A candidate is a value or a number that is the possible solution for a cell in a Sudoku Puzzle. The Sudoku game offers engaging challenges to all levels of players, be it novice or seasoned puzzle players.

Logical thinking & good organizational skills.

Quickly learning & recognizing patterns.

Sudoku Tricks – 10 ways to solve Sudoku.

Tips for solving sudoku puzzles hard