Sudoku strategy
Pointing Pairs Sudoku Strategy
Intermediate technique Intermediate
A pointing pair or triple happens when every possible location for a digit inside a box lies on the same row or column.
How to use it
- Pick one 3x3 box and one candidate digit.
- Find every cell in the box where that digit can fit.
- If all those cells share a row or column, the digit must be placed inside the box on that line.
- Remove that digit from the rest of the same row or column outside the box.
Practice: Use candidate mode on Medium puzzles and scan boxes before rows; the pattern is easier to see that way.
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.