Sudoku strategy
Naked Pairs Sudoku Strategy
Intermediate technique Intermediate
A naked pair is two cells in the same unit that contain the exact same two candidates, locking those two digits into those cells.
How to use it
- Find two cells in one row, column, or box with the same pair of candidates.
- Confirm both cells contain only those two candidates.
- Remove those candidates from every other cell in that unit.
- Look for singles created by the eliminations.
Practice: Medium and Hard puzzles are the best place to practice naked pairs because they appear often after the first wave of singles.
Practice this strategy
Use the interactive solver to practice this technique on a fresh puzzle. If you get stuck, the Human Solve mode can show the next logical step.