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How to play Sudoku

Sudoku is a logic puzzle on a 9×9 grid. The goal is to fill every empty cell with a digit from 1 to 9 — using deduction, not guessing. The starting clues already placed in the grid leave exactly one valid solution; your job is to find it.

THE THREE RULES

1. Every row must contain each digit 1–9 exactly once.
2. Every column must contain each digit 1–9 exactly once.
3. Every 3×3 box (the nine highlighted square regions) must contain each digit 1–9 exactly once.

BEGINNER STRATEGY

• Scan for naked singles. A cell where only one digit is legal (because the other eight are already in the same row, column, or 3×3 box) can be filled with confidence.
• Look for hidden singles. Sometimes a digit only fits in one cell of a given row, column, or box — even if that cell has other candidates. Place it.
• Work the dense regions first. Rows, columns, or boxes that already have 6 or 7 clues are the easiest to finish — and finishing them often unlocks deductions elsewhere.
• Never guess. Every legitimate Sudoku has a unique solution that can be found by deduction. If you find yourself guessing, back up and re-scan.

ABOUT THIS DAILY

Every visitor on the same UTC day sees the same puzzle, seeded from the date. Your in-progress solve is saved to this browser, so you can close the tab and come back later to finish. A new puzzle unlocks at midnight UTC. If you enjoy the puzzle, GridJoy on Google Play has 17 more puzzle types (Kakuro, Calcudoku, Killer Sudoku, Hex Mazes, and more) plus a ghost companion that grows with you as you solve.

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