You need to know the best sudoku tips and practice a lot if you hope to get really good at solving sudoku, Many people use what I like to call the "hope it works out" strategy when solving there puzzles which is the worst thing you can possibly do! If your going to take the time to solve a sudoku, than take the time to learn the best sudoku strategies and tips so that you truly become great at this addictive game.
While there are dozens of different techniques and solving strategies available, these are what I feel are the most important ones to learn and master, They are not placed in any particular order, so feel free to study them in whatever order you choose. While learning sudoku tips alone won't make a great sudoku player they certainly will help.
The Top 5 Sudoku Tips
- X-Wings
- Hidden Pairs
- Swordfish
- Double Pairs
- Penciling In
We have a video that explains Xwings on our sudoku videos page, in a nutshell xwings are usually rather easy to locate but some people find it one of those techniques that are a little harder to understand. It involves using pencil marks to allow you to eliminate other candidates and move you forward in solving your puzzle. You can locate an X-Wings when two lines each have the same positions for a particular candidate.
Another great strategy you can use is to start penciling in any possible candidates in the bottom of the cells. This makes it easier for you to eliminate any that clearly don't fit as you solve more cells. A good idea is to use a sharp pencil and a good eraser in case you make a mistake. Trying to erase an obvious error from your puzzle using an old worn out eraser can tear the puzzle and make you have to start all over. Don't underestimate the power of this simple tip. many players have used penciling in for years as their number one strategy for solving sudoku's and you should to, it is effective and it works!
Once you have a few basic strategies under you belt you may want to start practicing "hidden pairs" this is another sudoku tactic that can be very effective. Hidden pairs are a bit trickier to spot, but once you've gotten the hang of it, this technique can really help in your solving.
Swordfish and double pairs are two additional strategies that will speed up your times and make solving the more harder puzzles like samurai sudoku or killer that much easier. If you find all these different techniques a bit over whelming just try to work on one at a time. As you become better at each one, you will find that the rest become second nature. just remember nothing beats practice when it comes to solving sudoku, it makes the game not only much more fun but is also the best way to learn. If you have any sudoku tips you would like included in this list use or contact form and let us know!