Advanced Sudoku Techniques - Expert Solving Methods

Advanced Sudoku: Expert Techniques

Beginner techniques get you so far. Ready to tackle hard and expert sudoku? These advanced methods work magic.

Pointing Pairs

If a candidate appears only in one row/column within a 3x3 box, eliminate it from that row/column outside the box.

Box/Line Reduction

If a candidate in a row appears only in one box, eliminate it from other cells in that box.

X-Wing

Find two rows with a candidate appearing in exactly two columns. If those columns appear in another row with the same candidate, eliminate it from those columns in other rows.

Swordfish

An advanced version of X-Wing using three rows/columns instead of two.

Learning Path

1. Master naked singles and hidden singles first
2. Learn pointing pairs
3. Study X-Wing
4. Explore Swordfish and beyond

Play Sudoku now and test these techniques!