When you first look at a Sudoku puzzle, you should take some time to analyze the grid. The video tutorials advertised to the right demonstrate the sudoku solving techniques you need. I will briefly cover the most important in the following.

Scanning

The initial analysis is often referred to as scanning. You should scan the puzzle at least once initially and again as you successfully identifies and places numbers in the empty cells.

The first thing you want to check for to solve any sudoku puzzle is where the most given numbers are. You are more likely to identify the correct number to place in a cell if there are less options. You should start with the region, row or coloumn with most numbers already given.

Next you want to look for frequency of numbers. Again, you are more likely to find a solution where there are fewer options. You should start with the number with the highest frequency, then the next higher frequency – and so on.

To make a start, look at the region with most given numbers and ask yourself questions like “if I put a 1 in this cell, will it go in this column?” or “if a 9 is already in this row, can a 9 go in this cell?”

No matter what level of puzzle you are attempting to solve, you will soon discover keeping track on which numbers are possible solutions in which cells, is quite challenging – Especially if this your first attempt to solve sudoku puzzles.

Subscript Marking

You should use subscript marking to note possible numbers in the cells. Solving a Sudoku puzzle require a structured approach, and keeping track of your possible numbers is necessary. As you develop your skills and master the sudoku solving techniques, you will be able to solve easy puzzles without this technique.

The one disadvantage to this is that many puzzles, such as those found in newspapers, the grids are often too small to allow you to write more than one number in each cell. Consider making a larger copy of the puzzle so that you can read it easier or use a pencil that is very sharp so that you can write with a fine hand.

A puzzle will be classified as “easy” if you can solve it by the scanning method alone. Sudoku puzzles that are more challenging won’t be solved by scanning alone but will need multiple solving techniques.