Tips to Solving Sudoku
According to "The Sunday Times," the Japanese game of Sudoku can stimulate specific types of brain activity, helping to keep your mind spry and alert. Playing the number solitaire requires attention to patterns, but the more challenging puzzles can become frustrating. Following some tips can make gameplay easier and keep it exciting.
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Start Simply
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Start with the number 1, and move through each number looking to see how many of each are already placed for you on the board. Fill in as many obvious numbers as you can to eliminate open spaces. If you are new to Sudoku, practice with pencil and use Sudoku puzzles labeled "Easy" or "Beginner" until you can work up to the more challenging puzzles.
Control the Horizontal and Vertical
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Change tactics when you get stuck. If you are looking primarily at the numbers in a given box on the grid, switch your view to the horizontal or vertical line across the grid and use a process of elimination to see if there are numbers in either the column or row that reduce the possible numbers in a given space. The process of elimination is the key to successful Sudoku games.
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Track Numbers in Margins
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Keep track of what numbers still are needed in each row and column by using the white space of the margins around your Sudoku puzzle. For instance, if a particular row is only missing a 1, 6 and 8, write this on the side, crossing each one off as you find the correct answer per space. Use pencil for this step so you can erase the tracking later if you choose.
Confirm Answers
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Double-check your answers before writing them into the space by confirming that the number you have chosen is needed in the row, the column and the nine-space box on the grid in which you have placed the number. If you find a duplicate in any of these areas, you must correct your answer before proceeding, or the whole puzzle will be wrong.
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References
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