How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles
Sudoku is the puzzle game that will make you feel pissed off once you left it unsolved. At first glance, you think that it is easy to solve but as you go along the way, you will find out that you are just running out of numbers to fill in. You have only 9 numbers to choose from (1 to 9) and less than 81 cells to fill in and yet you will really run out of numbers and even that will to complete the game.
A Sudoku puzzle is composed of 81 cells which are formed by 9 columns and 9 rows. In addition, the puzzle can be further divided into nine sub-grids which have 9 cells each. Prior to the start of the game, some cells are already filled-up with numbers 1 to 9. The challenge for you is to fill the remaining vacant cells with such numbers to complete the puzzle. However, what will really make you pissed off is the basic rule that a number must only appear once on each row, column, and sub-grid. Once a particular number is assigned to the cell, such number should not come out on the row, column, and sub-grid where the cell belongs.
It will really frustrate you. But you have no choice but to follow it because it makes up the game itself. The only thing that you can do is to have some strategies which you can use to solve the puzzle correctly and within the shortest time possible.
Where will you start? Here are some of the basic strategies that you can use to break that Sudoku puzzle.
It is important that your puzzle must be in paper and not on the monitor. Have it downloaded and printed so that you can study it carefully. Also, use pencils so that you can erase any mistake that you make in assigning numbers to the cells. Remember that you can not take all things at a time without committing mistakes.
Keep in mind that Sudoku puzzles contains one unique solution. Use your logic in arriving to that unique solution and do not use trial and error method for it will not be of any help in solving the puzzle. Think of the possible numbers you can place on each cell and not just believe your wild guess.
One common reason why Sudoku creators and designers place more numbers on the grid is really to frustrate you and make it hard for you to solve it. However, instead of getting frustrated by these initially-filled cells, take it as a hint in order to crack down other numbers that are correctly assigned on particular cells. Look carefully at the initially-filled cells, and make a tally of the possible numbers that can be placed there. Take into consideration other parts of the puzzle as well.
Always keep notes of the numbers that you have placed on different cells. This will give you a hint of the numbers that need not to be considered, thus reducing the chance of assigning wrong numbers on the grid. If it happened that you duplicate the number on that particular row or column, erase it, and re-assign it to other cells.
By following the aforementioned strategies, you are assured that you can slowly crack down the solution of the Sudoku puzzle and emerge victorious at the end of the game.
Source: http://www.bloggedadvice.com