Sudoku strategies explained with graphics

Strategies


Overview Singles Naked Pairs Naked Triples Hidden Pairs Hidden Triples Naked Quads Hidden Quads Pointing Pair Pointing Triple Box Reduction X-Wing Finned X-Wing Sashimi Finned X-Wing Franken X-Wing Finned Mutant X-Wing Skyscraper Chute Remote Pairs Simple Coloring Y-Wing W-Wing Swordfish Finned Swordfish Sashimi Finned Swordfish Franken Swordfish Mutant Swordfish Finned Mutant Swordfish Sashimi Finned Mutant Swordfish Sue De Coq XYZ-Wing X-Cycle Bi-Value Universal Grave XY-Chain 3D Medusa Jellyfish Jellyfish Jellyfish Avoidable Rectangle Unique Rectangle Hidden Unique Rectangle WXYZ-Wing Firework Subset Exclusion Empty Rectangle Sue De Coq Extended SK Loop Exocet Almost Locked Sets Alternating Inference Chain Digit Forcing Chains Nishio Forcing Chains Cell Forcing Chains Unit Forcing Chains Almost Locked Sets Forcing Chain Death Blossom Pattern Overlay Bowman Bingo



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Pointing Pair


If a candidate is present in only two Cells of a Square, then it must be the solution for one of these two cells. If these two cells belong to the same Row or Column, then this candidate can not be the solution in any other cell of the same Row or Column, respectively.


pointing pair

In the example above candidate 2 must be the solution in cells H2 or H3 of Square "7". Hence candidate 2 can not be the solution in any other cell of Row "H". Candidate 2 can be deleted from H6.



You can practice this strategy by installing the free SudokuCoach application on your Android™ device.

Get it on Google Play

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