How to Play Sudoku
New to sudoku? Learn the rules in a minute, then pick up the two beginner techniques that solve every easy puzzle.
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Fill every row with the numbers 1–9, no repeats.
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Fill every column the same way.
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Fill every box the same way.
Two starter techniques
Naked single
If a cell has only one possible number left, place it.
Hidden single
If a number fits only one cell in a row, column, or box, it goes there.
Every NumPlace puzzle is solvable by logic alone. If you feel stuck, look for the next single — it is always there.
Sudoku FAQ
Can every sudoku be solved without guessing?
A well-made one can — and every NumPlace puzzle is machine-verified to have exactly one solution reachable by logical steps alone. Whenever you feel stuck, a next logical move exists; usually it is a naked or hidden single you have not spotted yet.
Do I need to be good at math to play sudoku?
No. Sudoku involves no arithmetic at all: the digits 1–9 are just nine symbols, and the puzzle would work the same with letters or shapes. It is a game of pure placement logic.
What is the difference between sudoku and Number Place?
They are the same puzzle. Number Place is the original American name from 1979; Japan made it famous as sudoku in the 1980s, and that name went around the world. Our name, NumPlace, tips its hat to the original.
Where should I start on a sudoku grid?
Start where the grid is fullest: take the row, column, or box with the most given numbers and work out where the missing digits can go. Scanning digit by digit — all the 1s, then all the 2s — reveals the first placements quickly.