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Sudoku GUIDE

Sudoku Candidate Scanning for Beginners

Beginners lose time when they guess before checking the row, column, and box as one combined constraint.

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Decision plan

Set up the position

Start with rows or boxes containing the most given digits.

Protect the next decision

Check both the row and column before placing a candidate.

Convert the opportunity

Use elimination instead of guessing when two cells look possible.

A decision sequence in sudoku

  1. Choose a blank cell in the row or box with the most given digits.
  2. Remove every digit already present in that cell's row, column, and 3×3 box.
  3. Enter a digit only when one candidate remains; otherwise move to another constrained cell.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Checking only the row and overlooking a duplicate in the column.
  • Forcing a guess when another cell has a single candidate.

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Memory

Both puzzles reward deliberate scanning and remembering information before making the next move.

Slide Puzzle

Slide Puzzle uses the same constraint-first mindset: inspect the whole grid before changing one cell.

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