How to Solve an Easy Sudoku
Solving a puzzle is one of the most popular pastimes in all parts of the world. During breaks you’ll often see someone busy solving puzzles from newspapers, magazine or books. These are personal moments that are an enjoyable passtime and also sharpen the mind.
Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzles. It is an addictive number puzzle game that is taking the United States and the whole world by storm. It has become one of the most famous puzzle games ever created.
It is played using a 9 x 9 grid that is divided into nine equal 3 x 3 regions. The objective of the puzzle is to place the numbers from 1 to 9. Each number must appear only once in every row, column and region.
A Sudoku puzzle game usually begins with a set of numbers already given in the puzzle. The complexity level of the puzzle will be determined by the given numbers and their placement. Puzzle difficulty ranges from simple or easy to highly difficult level of play.
If you haven’t tried playing a Sudoku puzzle yet, you should begin with the easiest puzzle available. If you purchase a puzzle book, the different levels will be labeled - whether it is easy, moderately hard or very difficult.
If you look for Sudoku in a newspaper, you will usually find the easiest Sudoku puzzle at the start of the week (Monday). Starting with an easy Sudoku, will help you improve your strategies and techniques. In addition, easy puzzles are less frustrating than difficult Sudoku.
How to play an easy Sudoku?
A Sudoku puzzle is solved using logical skills. For beginners, here are some steps which can be helpful in solving an easy sudoku. Be sure to follow each step carefully to have a better chance of solving the puzzle.
1. While solving the puzzle, think carefully and cleverly. You already know that you cannot have two duplicate numbers in each row, column or 3 x 3 region - this can help you to work out the placement of another number.
2. In solving an easy Sudoku, the first thing you must keep in mind is to look for the possibilities. Possibilities are the numbers that look like they might belong in a cell. Beginning with the number 1, make an imaginary line in the 1’s row and column. The number 1 is a possibility for any cell not already in line with the number one, and not in the same region as the number 1.
3. Carefully work on the numbers until the number 9. Since you have already placed some of the numbers, this will help you to identify the placement of other numbers which in turn will lead to more possibilities.
4. If you are trapped, go back and work through the numbers again - you probably missed something in the puzzle. If after this process you still cannot find the missing numbers, start marking up each cell with all of its possibilities.
The basic technique most players use in playing an easy Sudoku is by counting through each number and trying to place as many numbers as possible. You need to check the numbers in the rows columns and regions to make sure that no number is repeated. Once you have worked your way through the numbers 1 to 9, repeat the process.
Try to train your mind well in looking at the numbers in all 3 x 3 squres, columns or rows. In this way, you can easily spot the missing numbers.
Lastly, if this is your first time, be patient. It may be an easy Sudoku but it is not as simple as you may think. It still requires great logical skills and careful thinking in order to win and complete the puzzle.