Sudoku is a logical puzzle where people have to fill in missing numbers in a 9 by 9 grid square, which is subdivided into 3 by 3 boxes. While filling in the boxes, a person should keep in mind that every row, every column, and every box must contain the number from 1 through 9. It is a great way to enhance mental sharpness. Also, to improve your logical skills, participate in online puzzles & reasoning quizzes to test your knowledge in no time.
No matter how hard it appears to be, Sudoku is an easy-to-learn logic-based puzzle. Invented in Switzerland in the 18th century by Leonhard Euler, who developed a similar Sudoku puzzle. But the real Sudoku (as we see it now) was published in 1979 by an American architect Howard Garns. Sudoku gained worldwide popularity in Japan back in 1986, after the puzzle was published and given its real name Sudoku by Nikoli.
Different Techniques For Solving Sudoku Effortlessly
Now, we all know what Sudoku is and have a simple idea about how to play it as well. Let’s discuss different techniques for solving Sudoku effortlessly. The grid of Sudoku has 81 squares divided into 9 columns.
1) Scanning Technique
The scanning technique is one of the easiest ways to start playing the puzzle of Sudoku. In this technique, a player scans rows & columns within each triple-box area while eliminating numbers or squares and finding the right space to fit a single suitable number. The scanning technique is reliable for beginners to solve easy puzzles. The scanning technique is also very helpful while solving challenging puzzles.
2) Easy Technique
The Sudoku puzzle that we usually see in newspapers can be solved by using these two easy techniques:
a) Single Position: This is perhaps one of the easiest techniques to solve the Sudoku puzzle. People can apply this technique by properly scanning the game with their eyes. One of the essentials while solving the puzzle from the newspaper.
b) Single Candidate: If, in case, people have managed to rule out all other possible moves for a particular cell by studying the column, row and box so that in the end, only one number (possible correct answer) is left to put in the square. It is straightforward if you use pencil marks to keep what candidates (numbers) are still possible to be put within each cell.
3) Medium Candidate Lines Technique
Unlike others, this technique will not tell the solver where to place a number, but instead, it will help them to determine different places where people can’t place any number. If you use pencil marks, then it will help you remove numbers, and from that point, people will know where to put the number and in which column.
4) Medium Double Pairs Technique
The technique of double pairs relies on spotting two pairs of numbers for a value and using these numbers to rule them out from other boxes.
5) Analysing Technique
The level of Sudoku never stays the same. From being easy to intermediate to advanced, it evolves constantly to better players’ mental capability. That’s why, after a while, the scanning technique will not be enough to solve the difficult level.
In order to solve a difficult or advanced level, it is expected from a player to have a deeper analysis which is possible with the help of pencil marks (as mentioned in the above categories).
Pencil marking in Sudoku is a systematic process where puzzle solvers write small numbers inside the squares to denote which number might fit in the box. After pencil marking, the player or solver analyses the results, identifies number combinations and deducts what number(s) should be placed at what position.
6) Naked Pairs/Triples Technique
Also known as “Disjoint Subset” or “Naked Subset”, this technique works by looking for numbers that can be possibly removed from other cells.
Naked Pairs is a technique where only two numbers are being looked for, Naked Triplet is a technique where there are three numbers, and Naked Quads is a technique where there are four numbers to be looked after.
7) Guessing Technique
It’s the last resort when no technique works as expected. While solving the puzzle, you have tried everything, but to no avail, then all you need to do is break it down and make a guess. Though most Sudoku puzzles won’t let you guess, sometimes it is the only needed logical technique to solve the puzzle correctly.
Final Words
Above mentioned are some of the different techniques that a person might need while solving a Sudoku effortlessly. Before solving the puzzle, remember one thing, it is a logical reasoning puzzle, which requires your logical analysis and not maths skills. Moreover, solving a Sudoku puzzle is a great way of enhancing mental sharpness, which boosts confidence and makes you smarter in the crowd. Besides Sudoku, there are other brain games suitable for kids to improve their memory power, attention span and much more.
Furthermore, if you are looking for a different platform to sharpen your logical skills, look no further and visit PiggyRide. This e-learning platform has all the requisite information for your little ones to grow in the right direction and excel in their academic & extracurricular journey.
