How to Play Sudoku: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Experts
Sudoku is one of the most popular and addictive logic puzzles in the world. It is a game that challenges your brain, improves your concentration, and provides you with hours of fun and satisfaction. But how do you play sudoku? And how do you solve sudoku puzzles?
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about sudoku, from its origin and rules to its techniques and tips. We will also show you how to download sudoku puzzles in PDF format, so you can print them out and enjoy them anytime, anywhere.
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What is Sudoku?
Sudoku is a number puzzle that consists of a 9x9 grid of cells. The grid is divided into nine 3x3 boxes, each containing nine cells. The goal of sudoku is to fill in the grid with numbers from 1 to 9, so that each row, column, and box contains each number exactly once.
The origin and popularity of sudoku
The word sudoku is a Japanese abbreviation for "suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru", which means "the digits must be single". However, the puzzle itself was not invented in Japan, but in the United States. In 1979, a retired architect named Howard Garns created a puzzle called "Number Place" for Dell Magazines. The puzzle was later introduced to Japan by Nikoli, a puzzle publisher, who renamed it as "Sudoku".
Sudoku became a worldwide phenomenon in the early 2000s, thanks to the efforts of Wayne Gould, a retired judge from New Zealand. Gould developed a computer program that could generate sudoku puzzles of different difficulty levels. He also persuaded The Times newspaper in London to publish his puzzles in 2004. Since then, sudoku has appeared in newspapers, magazines, books, websites, apps, and TV shows all over the world.
The rules and objectives of sudoku
The rules of sudoku are simple and easy to understand. You just need to follow these three steps:
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Look at the grid and find an empty cell.
Choose a number from 1 to 9 that is not already in the same row, column, or box as the cell.
Write the number in the cell.
The objective of sudoku is to fill in the entire grid with numbers from 1 to 9, without breaking any of the rules. You don't need any math skills or calculations to play sudoku. You just need logic and reasoning.
How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles
Solving sudoku puzzles can be very challenging, especially if you are new to the game or facing a hard puzzle. However, there are some techniques that can help you solve any sudoku puzzle faster and easier. Here are some of the basic and advanced techniques that you can use:
Basic techniques for solving sudoku puzzles
These are some of the basic techniques that you can use to solve easy and moderate sudoku puzzles:
Scanning rows, columns, and boxesScanning rows, columns, and boxes
This is the simplest and most common technique for solving sudoku puzzles. It involves looking at the grid and finding the cells that have only one possible number. For example, if a row has eight numbers filled in, then the remaining cell must have the missing number. Similarly, if a column or a box has eight numbers filled in, then the remaining cell must have the missing number. You can use this technique repeatedly until you fill in all the cells that have only one possible number.
Eliminating candidates using pencil marks
This is a technique that helps you keep track of the possible numbers for each cell. It involves writing small numbers in the corners of the cells to indicate the candidates that can go in them. For example, if a cell can have either 2 or 5, then you can write 2 and 5 in the corners of the cell. You can then use the scanning technique to eliminate the candidates that are already in the same row, column, or box as the cell. For example, if another cell in the same row has 2, then you can erase 2 from the corners of the first cell. This way, you can narrow down the candidates for each cell until you find the correct number.
Finding naked and hidden singles, pairs, and triples
This is a technique that helps you find the cells that have a unique number in their row, column, or box. There are two types of singles: naked and hidden. A naked single is a cell that has only one candidate left after eliminating all the other candidates. A hidden single is a cell that has a candidate that is not present in any other cell in its row, column, or box. For example, if a row has two cells with 2 and 5 as candidates, and no other cell in the row has 2 or 5 as candidates, then one of those cells must be 2 and the other must be 5. You can use this technique to find and fill in the singles in the grid.
Similarly, there are two types of pairs: naked and hidden. A naked pair is a pair of cells in the same row, column, or box that have only two candidates in common. A hidden pair is a pair of cells in the same row, column, or box that have two candidates that are not present in any other cell in their row, column, or box. For example, if a column has two cells with 3 and 7 as candidates, and no other cell in the column has 3 or 7 as candidates, then those two cells form a hidden pair. You can use this technique to eliminate all the other candidates from those two cells.
Similarly, there are two types of triples: naked and hidden. A naked triple is a triple of cells in the same row, column, or box that have only three candidates in common. A hidden triple is a triple of cells in the same row, column, or box that have three candidates that are not present in any other cell in their row, column, or box. For example, if a box has three cells with 1, 4, and 9 as candidates, and no other cell in the box has 1, 4, or 9 as candidates, then those three cells form a hidden triple. You can use this technique to eliminate all the other candidates from those three cells.
Advanced techniques for solving sudoku puzzles
These are some of the advanced techniques that you can use to solve hard and expert sudoku puzzles:
Using X-wings, swordfish, and jellyfish
These are techniques that involve finding patterns of four, six, or eight cells that have only one candidate in common across two rows and two columns (X-wing), three rows and three columns (swordfish), or four rows and four columns (jellyfish). For example, if you find four cells with 6 as a candidate in rows 1 and 9 and columns 3 and 7 (forming an X shape), then you can eliminate 6 from all the other cells in those rows and columns. You can use this technique to eliminate candidates from multiple rows and columns at once.
Applying coloring and forcing chains
These are techniques that involve assigning colors to different candidates and following their implications on the grid. For example, if you find two cells with only 8 as a candidate in a row (forming a conjugate pair), then you can color one of them blue and the other one green. Then you can look for other cells with only 8 as a candidate that are connected to either blue or green cells by rows or columns (forming links). You can color those cells the same color as the cell they are linked to. This way, you can create a chain of colors that represents the possible placements of 8 in the grid. Then you can look for contradictions or eliminations that result from the coloring. For example, if you find two cells of the same color in the same row, column, or box, then that color is invalid and you can eliminate 8 from those cells. Or if you find a cell that has a different candidate that is the same color as one of the 8 candidates, then you can eliminate that candidate from that cell. You can use this technique to eliminate candidates from complex chains and loops.
Finding unique rectangles and deadly patterns
These are techniques that involve finding patterns of four cells that form a rectangle and have only two candidates in each cell. For example, if you find four cells with 2 and 5 as candidates in rows 2 and 8 and columns 4 and 6 (forming a rectangle), then you have a unique rectangle. The reason why it is unique is because if you fill in the rectangle with 2 and 5 in any way, you will create two solutions for the puzzle, which is not allowed. Therefore, you can eliminate 2 and 5 from any other cell in the rectangle that has more than two candidates. For example, if one of the cells in the rectangle also has 7 as a candidate, then you can eliminate 7 from that cell. You can use this technique to eliminate candidates from potential multiple solutions.
A deadly pattern is a variation of a unique rectangle, where the four cells have only two candidates in total, not in each cell. For example, if you find four cells with only 1 and 9 as candidates in rows 3 and 7 and columns 1 and 9 (forming a rectangle), then you have a deadly pattern. The reason why it is deadly is because no matter how you fill in the rectangle with 1 and 9, you will create a contradiction in the grid. Therefore, you can eliminate 1 and 9 from any other cell that sees all four cells in the rectangle. For example, if there is a cell in row 3 and column 5 that has 1 and 9 as candidates, then you can eliminate 1 and 9 from that cell. You can use this technique to eliminate candidates from impossible solutions.
How to Download Sudoku Puzzles in PDF Format
If you love playing sudoku puzzles, you might want to download them in PDF format, so you can print them out and enjoy them offline. There are many benefits of downloading sudoku puzzles in PDF format, such as:
You can choose the difficulty level and size of the puzzles.
You can save paper and ink by printing multiple puzzles on one page.
You can write on the puzzles with a pen or pencil and erase your mistakes easily.
You can take the puzzles with you anywhere and play them anytime.
You can share the puzzles with your friends and family and challenge them to solve them.
There are many sources for downloading sudoku puzzles in PDF format, but here are some of the best ones:
Printable sudokus
This website offers thousands of free sudoku puzzles in PDF format for all levels of difficulty. You can download up to six puzzles per page, with or without solutions. You can also customize the font size, grid style, and title of the puzzles.
Sudoku books
This website offers hundreds of sudoku books in PDF format for all levels of difficulty. You can download up to four books per day, each containing 100 puzzles. You can also choose the book title, cover image, and paper size.
Download free sudoku puzzles
This website offers hundreds of free sudoku puzzles in PDF format for all levels of difficulty. You can download up to nine puzzles per page, with or without solutions. You can also choose the grid size, color scheme, and language of the puzzles.
Conclusion
Sudoku is a fun and challenging game that can improve your brain power, concentration, and mood. It is easy to learn but hard to master. However, by using some of the techniques we have explained in this article, you can solve any sudoku puzzle faster and easier. You can also download sudoku puzzles in PDF format from various sources online, so you can print them out and play them offline.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about sudoku. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Happy puzzling!
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about sudoku and its puzzles:
What is the difference between sudoku and kakuro?
Sudoku and kakuro are both number puzzles that involve filling in a grid with digits. However, sudoku uses a 9x9 grid with nine 3x3 boxes, while kakuro uses a rectangular grid with black and white cells. Sudoku requires that each row, column, and box contains each digit from 1 to 9 exactly once, while kakuro requires that each horizontal and vertical group of white cells adds up to the clue given in the adjacent black cell.
How do I check if I have solved a sudoku puzzle correctly?
There are several ways to check if you have solved a sudoku puzzle correctly. One way is to use the scanning technique to see if there are any empty cells or duplicate numbers in any row, column, or box. Another way is to use a sudoku solver tool online, such as this one, that can verify your solution or show you the correct one. A third way is to compare your solution with the one provided by the source of the puzzle, such as a newspaper, a website, or a book.
How can I improve my sudoku skills?
The best way to improve your sudoku skills is to practice regularly and challenge yourself with different levels of difficulty. You can also learn new techniques and tips from various sources online, such as this article, this blog, or this YouTube channel. You can also join sudoku communities and forums online, such as this one, where you can share your puzzles, solutions, questions, and feedback with other sudoku enthusiasts.
What are some of the benefits of playing sudoku?
Playing sudoku has many benefits for your mental and physical health. Some of the benefits are:
It improves your memory, concentration, and logical thinking.
It reduces stress, anxiety, and boredom.
It boosts your self-esteem and confidence.
It prevents cognitive decline and dementia.
It enhances your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Where can I find more sudoku puzzles to play?
There are many sources where you can find more sudoku puzzles to play online or offline. Some of the sources are:
Newspapers and magazines that publish sudoku puzzles daily or weekly.
Websites and apps that offer sudoku puzzles for free or for a fee.
Books and ebooks that contain sudoku puzzles of various themes and difficulty levels.
Sudoku generators that can create sudoku puzzles of any size and difficulty level.
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