Play Sudoku The Puzzle
Do you know anything about the Rubik’s Cube? Who hasn’t heard about it? Have you ever played with it? If you did and you are looking for a bigger challenge, try Sudoku. Sudoku is a number placement puzzle game that needs careful thought and intense patience.
Sudoku is a great puzzle that can be found anywhere from newspapers, magazines, textbooks, and on the internet. It consists of a series of grids. The grids usually involve one big 9×9 grid that holds 9 smaller 3×3 subgrids, each with 9 cells.
The main objective of Sudoku is to put a number from 1 to 9 into each of the cells in the grid. In Sudoku, you do not have to add the numbers and look for the sum of the rows and columns. Though it is a number game, there will definitely be no addition required.
However, there are three rules that must be strictly followed. And they are:
1. Each of the numbers from 1 to 9 should come out only once in each column.
2. Each number from 1 to 9 must appear once in each row.
3. Each should appear once in each 3×3 subgrid
These rules should be followed carefully to make sure that each 3×3 subgrid, and each row and column has the numbers from 1 to 9 show only once. This definitely increases the challenge and difficulty in playing the game.
Sudoku puzzles comes in different levels of difficulty. The total numbers given in the puzzle varies. Many people think that the game will be easier if there are more numbers given. However, this is not always the case, because the placement of each number also effects the puzzle’s level of difficulty.
Now, how will you play Sudoku, the puzzle game?
First, you need to follow the rules. Once you know the rules, start playing the game. Following are steps which you can use in playing the sudoku.
- You do not have to guess everything when playing. A Sudoku puzzle can be solved with logic. All you have to do is think about it carefully. The best way to begin the puzzle is by searching for the clues. The majority of players begin by looking for the given numbers that appear most often.
For example, you might have many 4’s in the first puzzle. Look in the 3 x 3 subgrid to see if the number 4 is also there. Now, can you find out other places where there is also a number 4? Start looking for the no. 4 in the rows and columns. These can help you locate where the other 4’s are. Remember, the number 4 must appear only once in each of the 3 x 3 subgrids, rows or columns. If there is already a 4 in the columns 1 and 3, then there should be no other 4 in either of those 2 columns. If you are able to remove all the other possibilities in a cell, you will end up with the right number!
- When you have finished looking at all the 3 x 3 subgrids, you should also look to fill in the numbers 1 to 9 in the rows and columns that hold most of the numbers. If only two numbers are not in the row or column you can always do the elimination method to know where to place the last two numbers. Check the rows and the columns to locate the missing numbers. If you have eliminated one of the possibilities on each row or column, there is a chance to fill the line you are playing.
- The two steps above will help you solve the simplest or easy Sudoku. On the other hand, difficult puzzles need players who know how to look for the possibilities of the puzzle. The possibilities basically need someone who will solve and win the puzzle with all the given different choices in every cell. There may be times that there is no way to remove a possibility, so a player will have to guess a number. When this happens, it is necessary to remember where you have guessed a number so that you can reverse your steps if your first choice was wrong.
Sudoku is game of wits. Sometimes, you will feel that you are playing a never-ending game. But, by following the steps and practicing you will know the techniques that are helpful and will lead you to victory.
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