With many advanced techniques, the key is to spot patterns within your pencil marks to eliminate possibilities within other squares. Pencil marks are small numbers, usually written at the top of each unsolved square, listing all the possible values for that square. Here we present the techniques that will help you solve the hardest puzzles using only logic and no guesswork.įirst a couple of preliminary points: if you have ever completed any Fiendish or Super Fiendish Sudoku, you will be familiar with noting down candidates or pencil marks. Please be reassured that all Sudoku puzzles published in the Times are always solvable by logical means. So, as we increase the difficulty Super Fiendish, the time has come to present the essential techniques for solving the most difficult Sudoku puzzles. Many have welcomed the new challenge but some have asked for help. In November 2006, The Times introduced a new extreme level of Sudoku giving players a more difficult level of logic: Super Fiendish. Similar techniques are used to solve this medium rated Sudoku puzzle.Advanced solving techniques As seen on Times Online in February 2007 In addition, the 6 has only one remaining place for this row and column.įigure 9 demonstrates the different techniques that can go into finding a particular value. There are other 6s in blocks above and to the left and right.
In fact, this 6 is particularly easy to spot. Usually, it would not be possible to place all the remaining numbers in sequence. On this occasion, you can place the final 6 in the bottom centre block. In the past example, you can see that the first 6 lead directly to finding the 6 in the column.Ĭontinuing along this line, it is easy to spot another 6 in the block above. Generally, it is a good idea to focus initially on the same number. However, the 6 can only lie in one of the 3 available squares as there is a 6 to the left of the other remaining gaps in the column. In this column, there is space for a 2, 6 and 9. Pick one and identify the numbers that are missing. The Sudoku has several near-complete rows and columns. The next method is very similar as it utilises the same technique, but this time for rows and columns. This method is relatively easy, provided you can identify good numbers to search for.Ĭontinuing with the same method, there is an easy 6 in the centre left block. With the row and column eliminated, there is only one square remaining for the 3 in the block. Now, both the top row and the first column of the block already contain a 3. If you look down from this block, there is a second 3 allocated to the first column in the block.
You should be able to spot a 3 to the right, eliminating the possibility of another 3 in the top row. Scan for any of the numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 that have yet to be placed in this block. Look along to the blocks to the left, right and below.
Generally, it at the beginning it is wise to choose blocks that are more complete: these often lead to some easy squares to solve. Here, you can see the highlighted block has 4 out of 9 squares present. Using this knowledge, one can attempt the easiest technique: identifying a unique number to go in each block in the grid. The majority of puzzles can be solved using just one key technique.Īs you know, the numbers from 1 to 9 must be placed once in every block. Simple solving techniques The essential solving technique for all Sudoku puzzlesĪll correctly formed Sudoku puzzles are solvable using logical solving techniques.
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