Tips for Solving Sudoku

by Jillian Gregory

Are you a fan of Sudoku? Have you become addicted to this puzzle game? Sudoku is rapidly sweeping the United States as well as the world. It could very well kick traditional crossword puzzles out of the puzzle scene. Many newspapers now have a daily Sudoku puzzle for their readers. Internet websites devoted to Sudoku are popping up every day. Even bookstores like Barnes & Noble are dedicating entire shelves and tables to books on Sudoku.

I discussed the history of Sudoku in a previous article here on Grandmatrix. This article also gave the basic rules regarding Sudoku. If you are new to Sudoku or haven't had a chance to read the article then you can check it out here.

Let's say that you tried your hand at Sudoku. Perhaps you were successful in the first go around or you worked your way to a solution by trial and error. On the other hand you may still be stumped as to how to solve a Sudoku puzzle. Following are four tips to help you to solve Sudoku puzzles.

Tip #1: Don't overlook the obvious.

Look at the rows of three boxes which consist of nine cells. Scan to see if the same number, for example 7, appears in two of the three rows. When this occurs it is usually easy to ascertain the cell where you should place the third number 7.

However, sometimes you will have more then one possible cell available for the third number 7. When this happens you will need to branch out and examine the number arrangement in the vertical columns.

Tip #2: Cut your puzzle into chunks.

The 9 x 9 grid may appear to be overwhelming at first glance. Shrink your problem by focusing on smaller chunks of the grid. For example, you can look within each small 3 x 3 grid and then work your way out to the surrounding columns and rows.

Tip #3: Examine your Sudoku puzzle with a well trained eye.

You have your Sudoku puzzle in front of you, ready to be solved. The first thing you should do is to count the frequency of each number. Count the frequency of the numbers in each 3 x 3 matrix, each row, and each column. This will help you to determine where to start in the puzzle.

During this examination you can then determine what numbers couldn't possibly fit in a certain cell. This is the beginning of an inspection process that you will do until the puzzle has been solved.

Tip #4: Keep track of number possibilities in vacant cells.

While working through the Sudoku puzzle you may find that there is more then one possible number you could put into a vacant cell. You are unable to determine the number until you have figured out the numbers for different cells. This interdependence between cells can leave you confused if you don't keep track of your possibilities.

Many Sudoku players have found that keeping number possibilities in their head is too confusing. Therefore, they use a pencil to lightly write in the number possibilities. Sometimes the physical size of the puzzle is too small to do this. In which case, you can either copy the puzzle to a large piece of paper or use your own symbol definitions such as dots or stars.

Try these Sudoku solving tips to help you conquer Sudoku puzzles. Sudoku players abound around the entire globe and you can connect with them via the Internet for more tips on how to solve Sudoku puzzles. There are several books of Sudoku puzzles on the market that enable you to test your skills. Try a Sudoku puzzle today.