Sudoku
Academy
the brain is like a muscle. if we don’t give it a regular workout, it loses tone
Julia Cameron
As the developers of the Sudoku X game, we at Happy Hippo are true Sudoku enthusiasts. Every day, we raise the bar a bit higher, constantly challenging both you and ourselves. However, like everyone else, we too started from the beginning and had to learn the basic techniques. Sudoku techniques enhance your Sudoku-solving skills and tackle the increasing levels of difficulty in our gameplay.
The beauty of Sudoku lies in its capacity to evolve with the player. As your skill level advances, we will support you in uncovering deeper layers of strategy and technique, ensuring that the game remains a captivating challenge for both beginners and experienced players.
In this Sudoku Academy, we provide explanations of many of the fundamental solving techniques that you can use in every game depending on the various difficulty levels (from Beginner to Master). We guide you step by step through every video explaining a specific technique, or, if you prefer reading, then there is the opportunity to read through them at your own pace.
beginner level techniques
Table of Contents
Last free cell
technique
In the realm of Sudoku puzzles, solving methods fall into two main categories: number placement and number elimination. Number elimination techniques work by systematically removing potential numbers from specific cells until the correct number to be placed becomes clear.
Typically, beginners and easy-level players can rely solely on placement techniques to complete the puzzles.
There are three distinct placement techniques, each with its unique logic: “Last Free Cell,” “Last Possible Number,” and “Single Possible Position.”
This video focuses on the straightforward “Last Free Cell” technique. The basic Sudoku rules say that every row, column, and 3×3 block must contain the numbers 1 through 9, each appearing only once. These are the fundamental so-called constraints that one must adhere to while solving a Sudoku puzzle.
“Last Free Cell” relies on these fundamentals. Let’s take a look at the board. We can see an uncompleted column on the left, a block in the middle, and an uncompleted row at the bottom. All with exactly one number missing. Now, let’s start with the row. Can you spot the missing number? Following the basic rule, we can easily see that the row contains all numbers from 1 through 9 but the 5. Let’s place it in the last free cell. Applying the same logic to the column on the left-hand side gives us a 6 that can be filled. And whilst we are on a roll, let’s also place that 7 in the center block.
To advance your skills further, make sure to watch our videos on the other placement techniques, and practice with Sudoku X to excel at beginner and easy levels.
Last possible number
technique
In the Sudoku universe, techniques fall into two camps: placement and elimination. Placement is about filling in the blanks, while elimination deals with narrowing down the possibilities to eventually uncover the correct number for each cell.
Every Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution, solvable by specific methods. Our beginner and easy levels are crafted to be tackled with straightforward placement tactics.
Consider a partially completed 3×3 block. The Last Possible Number strategy involves identifying the one number that’s missing, using the cornerstone Sudoku principle: each number 1 through 9 must appear once per row, column, and block.
Focus on the central block. Let’s see if we can figure out what number should go in the bottom-left cell. Within the block, numbers 4, 6, and 7 are already present, meaning we’re missing 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9. The intersecting row, however, prevents us from placing the 2, 5, and 8 in the highlighted cell. The intersecting column further eliminates the 1 and 9. You see? By process of elimination, the only contender left for our highlighted cell is 3. Let’s place it.
By the way, you can apply this technique multiple times throughout many games. As you progress filling the board, The Last Possible Numbers will reveal themselves more frequently.
Make sure you also watch the video with other placement techniques, Last Free Cell, and Single Possible Position, in becoming a Sudoku Master! and practice your skills with Sudoku X and master the beginner and easy levels.
easy level technique
Single Possible Position
Technique
Sudoku-solving methods fall into two camps: placement and elimination. Placement is about filling in the blanks, while elimination deals with narrowing down the possibilities to eventually uncover the correct number for each cell.
Every Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution, solvable by specific methods. Our beginner and easy levels are crafted to be tackled with straightforward placement tactics.
The Single Possible Position technique is about choosing a row, column, or 3×3 block, and iterating through the numbers not yet placed. If, because of other placements of the same number on the board, there is only one possible position left, then you can place that number.
Let’s take a look at an example and pay attention to the highlighted row. There are 3 empty cells and it can be quickly seen that the 3, 5, and 7 are still missing. Further, no 3s or 5s exist on the board, possibly limiting their placement in the highlighted row. But what about the 7? Let’s take a closer look. We can see a 7 placed in the block at the top.
As we know, there can only be one 7 present in the center column. This Basic Rule eliminates one possible empty cell in the middle of the row as a result. Similarly, the 7 placed in the bottom-right block, eliminates another empty cell within the same row, leaving the first empty cell on the left as a single possible position. Applying this logic, we can confidently place the 7 in the empty cell!
Playing Sudoku games, you will find frequent use for the Single Possible Position Technique. Make sure you also watch the video with other placement techniques, Last Free Cell and Last Possible Number, on your journey to becoming better at Sudoku. Remember that you improve Sudoku skills by often playing, starting with the beginner and easy levels.