Sudoku is a puzzle game that follows specific logic, and the higher the level, the more time, patience, and calculation skills the player needs to solve it. Whether it's easy, hard, or super hard Sudoku, there are certain ways to play, all following the game's unique logic to help players solve it.
For beginners, mastering Sudoku tricks is the key to solving Sudoku puzzles quickly at simple or moderate levels. Based on that logic, they can tackle more difficult puzzles. But of course, at the hard level, we will need more time and calculation to achieve the desired results.
Sudoku and Its Essential Rules
- Sudoku is among the most popular games in Japan, renowned for its ability to enhance intellectual prowess and foster excellent logical thinking. In Japanese, Sudoku means uniqueness, signifying the game's significance.
- Sudoku comes in various forms and versions depending on regions, but the standard type is a square grid with 9 large cells divided into 3x3, each containing 9 small cells, totaling 81 cells.
- The rules of Sudoku are simple: players must fill in the missing numbers in the 81 cells, with only about 10 pre-filled cells in the grid for hard levels. Players need to fill numbers 1 to 9 in each large cell while satisfying two conditions.
* Firstly, the number you input must be unique and not repeated within the 3x3 grid.
* Secondly, the number you input must be unique within the 9 numbers of the rows and columns it intersects.
Sudoku Tips for Beginners
1. Cross out numbers in rows and columns to narrow down possibilities
Crossing out numbers in rows and columns is the simplest way for you to find a suitable number for the empty cell. Identify the numbers that appear most frequently on the screen, and cross them out in rows and columns until you reach the cell you need to fill. Since each 3x3 cell position is unique, any position not on the same row or column is the position you are looking for.
However, this Sudoku trick only applies to easy and moderate levels. At the hard level, you won't be able to apply this method from the beginning.
2. Identify duplicate cells to eliminate possibilities for the cell in question
The first step in finding the easiest numbers is to identify duplicate cells to determine the most suitable position to fill in the numbers. As shown in the figure above, we focus on finding the number 5 in the lower position. When the row of 5s from the cells along the row will eliminate the 5 below from where it is. However, in this Sudoku trick, you will find that the position of the number 5 still remains in one of the two cells to be filled. Nevertheless, we can use trial and error to achieve more accurate results.
3. Try filling in numbers and compare with other rows
In Sudoku, each number must be unique as stated in the rule. In the figure above, you'll notice that we need to fill in numbers 2, 5, 7, and 9. Here, it's easy to see that the number 7, when filled in the rows above and below, results in the middle cell being 7, leaving 2, 5, and 9. Continuing the comparison, we'll find that in the row above, only 2 or 5 can be filled in next to the 7, so the next number must be 9. To find the remaining 2 and 5, we have to apply the same logic to the columns before we get the correct answer. At this point, you can try filling in numbers and continue solving if there are no more clues. However, note that trial numbers sometimes lead to multiple mistakes.
4. Use the exclusion rule to eliminate inappropriate numbers in the cell
Try using drafts and apply the exclusion rule for numbers that are present, absent, and impossible at that position to fill in the remaining cells. Using drafts is also a good solution in this situation, and as shown in the figure above, we can see that crossing out rows and excluding at least must still leave us puzzled about 2 cells for each number. So, try drafting and filling in the remaining numbers to see what happens.
Here are some Sudoku tips you should know before or when starting to play this game. Remember to start with easy Sudoku puzzles to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations you discover during the game and apply them to more difficult levels.
If you find Sudoku too challenging, take a break for a while and engage in another entertaining game to relieve stress better. For instance, playing Megaman on the computer, as we'll discuss later, allows you to experience a simple, enjoyable, and skillful entertainment game.
