The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[muffin]

****3*82*
28**1****
*394**17*
*******3*
**37*56**
*9*******
*25*7146*
3***9*758
*47*5****

Any tips on the next move? :/ I havnt been playing very long and im not sure wat to do next

[Arnie]

have a look at box 4 - you should be able to insert a number.

If you need another hint, look at column 2, row 5 within box 4

[muffin]

cheers ill go look now

[muffin]

o dear what a numpty i am :/ just been staring at it for ages and never spotted those easy ones :o

cheers for ur help

[Hammerite]

There's only one place for a 4 to go in the bottom centre box. Having put it there, you can deduce where the 2 in the second-to-bottom row should go.

[youngbaz]

First things first ...

I dubbed your puzzle into the Sudoku program - it's valid, but rated as 'hard'.

Have you tried reading through the series of tips on the sudoku.com web-page? They make sound sense.

I'd start by looking at horizontal sets of three mini-squares. Within each set of three in total, are there any digits which appear twice? If yes, then go to the mini-square that does not have that digit already identified. There is only one row on which this digit can be placed (by definition - you already have two rows occuoied elsewhere in the set of three). So at worst you've narrowed down to three squares its possible placement, but often it can only be placed in one or two squares.
Try looking at the bottom row of three mini-squares for instance. There are already two 4s identified. The central mini-square in the bottom row doesn't have a 4 and you'll find there's only one square it can go into.

When you've done this for horizontal sets of three, go thro the same process for the three vertical sets of three.

You should find a few more to get you going - but read the tips anyway.

Barry