Sudoku Strategy Guide
Master Sudoku with these expert tips and techniques. From beginner fundamentals to advanced patterns, these strategies will help you solve puzzles faster and more confidently.
Practice now →Key Strategies
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Scan for naked singles first
A naked single is a cell with only one possible digit. Scan every empty cell before attempting more complex techniques — naked singles are free placements.
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Look for hidden singles
If a digit can only appear in one cell within a row, column, or box — even if that cell has other candidates — place it immediately.
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Use box–line reduction
If all candidates for a digit in a box fall on the same row or column, that digit can be eliminated from the rest of that row or column outside the box.
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Try candidate elimination in pairs
Naked pairs (two cells in a unit that share exactly the same two candidates) let you eliminate those candidates from all other cells in that unit.
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Work in passes, not cell-by-cell
Scan the whole grid before writing in any digit. Each pass will usually reveal 2–5 placements, which then enable the next pass.
Put It Into Practice
The best way to improve is to play regularly. Start with an easy puzzle and apply these techniques one at a time.