What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is, simply put, a logic puzzle. Originally created under the name of "Number Place" by Howard Garns, later being rebranded as "Sudoku" in the 1980's. The puzzle was originally created for the unique placements of the numbers one to nine, variations can include other numbers, letters, or symbols. The sudoku board is a 9x9 grid of squares (or cells) subdivided into 9 columns, rows, and boxes. The rules for the puzzle are quite simple, you must fill each cell with a unique symbol from each other cell in the same row, column, and box. while the rules are not complicated, Sudoku can be a very difficult and rewarding challenge to overcome

The Basics

When beginning your first couple Sudokus, it is recommended to begin with some puzzles that requires no advanced tactics. You shouldn't need to look up an X or Y wing (No, we arent talking about Star Wars.) to figure your way through your first time. simple moves and basic pencil marking should be all you need, and we can talk about some of those here such as:

Lone Single

the last possible location a number could go, your most basic move. an example of this:

Naked Single

the last candidate for a cell after removing pencil marks.

Hidden Single

the single location a number can go in a row, column, or box without it being the only candidate for the cell. The name "hidden" refers to the digit being hidden by other non-candidates.

Naked Pair

A naked pair is the last possible location a pair could go in a row, coloumn, or box. Allowing you to remove any pencil marks of the pair in the row, column, or box it resides in