How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles Quickly
Sudoku puzzles are a popular way to pass the time. While these puzzles do not require any math to solve, they do involve long periods of time analyzing the numbers provided on the grid. While some Sudoku puzzles will be much quicker to solve than others, you can use several techniques to help you cut down on the time it takes to solve each puzzle. You will be able to get results quickly if you follow a structured pattern when analyzing Sudoku puzzles.
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Instructions
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1
Fill in any rows, columns or boxes that have only one blank square in them. Since each area must have every number from one through nine appearing in it only once, you can easily deduce which number is missing if all other numbers are available. This is the quickest way to fill in empty spaces.
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2
Identify the number that appears most frequently in the puzzle. Scan each row, column and box for the number. In rows, columns or boxes that do not have the number, identify all the possible places where it could go, and note these lightly with your pencil. In many cases, there will only be one place where the number can go. In these cases, place the number there in darker pencil. If the number appears several times, you may be able to fill it in for every row, column and box in one pass. This will quickly yield new possibilities for solving other areas of the puzzle.
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3
Locate any rows, boxes or columns that now have only one or two numbers missing. In these instances, see if you can deduct the exact number that belongs in those squares. If you cannot, note the two possible numbers for those squares in light pencil. Continue to work on small sections of the puzzle where only a few numbers are missing. Working with areas that are nearly filled will yield quicker solutions than working on empty areas of the puzzle where you have many possibilities for each space.
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4
Select another number that appears frequently throughout the puzzle, and repeat Step 2. When you come across boxes where you have noted only two possible numbers as solutions, pay close attention to their position. For example, if you have only two empty places within a box that must be either one or two, these will be lightly marked with those numbers. If those boxes happen to also appear in the same column, no other square in that column can be a one or a two. Even though you don't know the exact placement of those numbers, you have narrowed it down enough to exclude them from other places in the row.
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5
Note all possible numbers for a space when you are stuck and cannot fill in any more places. Continue to work across the puzzle, noting all possible numbers. When you come across a space that you are able to solve, immediately scan the row, column and box for that number to see if this new solution yields other solutions. Do not continue working box by box, noting possible numbers, without performing this scan, as it will waste a great deal of time.
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6
Continue through the above steps until you solve the puzzle. Remember to step back and frequently scan the puzzle as in Step 1 to keep from spending unnecessary time on a trouble spot when a solution is waiting for you in another area of the puzzle.
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References
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