How to Start a Puzzle
beginnerFirst steps when approaching a new Sudoku
Knowing how to start a Sudoku puzzle efficiently sets you up for success.
Understanding the Concept
Step 1: Scan the entire grid to get familiar with the given numbers.
Step 2: Look for rows, columns, or boxes that are nearly complete (6-8 numbers filled).
Step 3: For each missing number, check if it can only go in one place.
Step 4: Start with the numbers that appear most frequently in the grid.
Step 5: Work systematically - don't jump randomly around the grid.
Step 6: Use pencil marks (candidates) to track possibilities in harder puzzles.
Examples
Scan for Nearly Complete Houses
Row 1 has 6 numbers filled (highlighted blue). Only 3 cells are empty - these are great starting points!
Pro Tips
- •Look for "low-hanging fruit" - obvious placements first
- •Check each number 1-9 systematically
- •Focus on houses (rows/columns/boxes) with the most clues
- •Don't guess - there's always a logical next step
Practice Exercise
Try starting this easy puzzle. Look for rows or boxes with many numbers already filled and find the missing digits.
