How to Play Sudoku: A Gentle Guide
Sudoku explained kindly from the very beginning — no jargon, no maths, and a simple method that always works on easy puzzles.
The whole rulebook in three lines
A sudoku grid has nine rows, nine columns, and nine three-by-three boxes. Every row, every column and every box must end up containing the numbers 1 to 9, each exactly once. That's it — there is no adding up, and no arithmetic of any kind.
Some numbers are printed for you at the start. Your job is simply to work out what goes in the empty squares.
The one method you need
Pick an empty square. Look along its row, down its column, and around its box, and ask: which numbers can I already see? Whatever is left over is what could go here. If only one number is left over — write it in.
On an easy puzzle there is always at least one square where only one number fits. Fill it in, and that new number unlocks another square, and so on like a row of dominoes. If you're stuck, don't stare — move to a different corner of the grid and the logic will open up again.
Kindly habits
- Start with the rows, columns or boxes that already have the most numbers — they're closest to done
- Never guess: if you're not certain, the square isn't ready yet
- On our website, use 'Check my progress' whenever you like — it marks any slips without judgement
- One puzzle a day keeps it a pleasure; there's always a fresh grid tomorrow