The word sudoku is the contraction of a Japanese phrase which may be translated as ‘limiting to single digits’ – to pronounce it with the ‘o’ as in ‘dock’ is nearer the original.
A standard sudoku grid contains 81 squares formed by 9 columns and 9 rows. The whole is divided into 9 cells each of 9 squares (3x3). Three cells in line horizontally across the grid are sometimes referred to as a band, and three cells vertically as a stack.
Any number, or digit, placed in a square is given the power to ‘block’ the cell, the column, and the row that the digit inhabits. This means the same digit cannot appear again in any of those domains (as defined by the ‘rules’ of suduko). In all, each digit will block 20 squares as well as filling its own – influencing about one quarter of the entire grid.
The challenge is to complete the puzzle grid so that every cell, column and row displays the digits 1 to 9, one appearance for each digit in whatever necessary order. A typical ‘medium’ puzzle may have about thirty digits supplied by the setter, though the number of squares filled does not necessarily determine the level of difficulty.
Solving a sudoku puzzle is a process of logic rather than guesswork (which usually leads to more guesswork, and on to failure) or the ‘what if?’ substitution approach. Although the puzzle uses digits, these are merely convenient symbols and they have no numerical value as such within the grid. No mathematical knowledge is required for sudoku.
A potentially useful feature of the sudoku solving process – indeed, a lifeline in some cases – is the occurrence of a double, sometimes called a couple, or twins. Within the one domain (i.e. cell, column, row), two squares may be blocked to all but the same two digits. Which digit goes where is not yet decided, but the knowledge that only those squares can take only those digits means that both of the digits can be eliminated from all other squares in the domain. An example is shown in step 15 of the worked example.
Similarly, a triple (trio, threesome, triplets) may be found. If three squares within the one domain are recognised as taking only three digits (or if two of the squares will take the three digits and another square two of the digits) then the three digits can be discarded for all the other squares of the domain. The useful application of a triple is rare.
A column-and-row scan, sometimes called cross-hatching, looks for vacancies in cells by visually filling the lines occupied by a particular digit. For each digit, 1 to 9 in order, the grid is swept from top left to bottom right. The method is demonstrated in the worked example.
Occasionally, the column-and-row scan will stall (fail to find a vacancy), and an individual square check is the way forward. This more demanding procedure is rewarded when eight digits are found to be blocking a square which can then be filled by the single unblocked digit. The method also locates doubles. More likely to work as the grid fills.
An alternative to the individual square check is to ask of columns and rows in turn where could the 1 be placed, the 2, and so on. For the most part, there will be too many squares for too many digits, but the effort may well discover that only one digit will fit a certain square. Again, a filling grid offers the better prospect of a result.
The elimination grid (see below) is designed for really stubborn puzzles. On the elimination grid, the normal square is replaced by an array containing the digits 1 to 9. By highlighting digits that are known and striking through digits that are blocked, all remaining possibilities are clearly shown. To reduce the risk of error when using the elimination grid, an alignment guide called the L-piece is recommended. A primed elimination grid is available at the worked example.
Have a look at this step-by-step completion of a fairly difficult asymmetric puzzle. Two solving methods are used – column-and-row scan, and individual square check (see the solving methods panel for description).
Print puzzle on standard grid
Print puzzle on elimination grid
