OVERVIEW OF SUDOKU
Sudoku features a 9x9 square divided into nine 3x3 squares. The objective of classic Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each box such that every row, column, and 3x3 square contains exactly one of each number.
WHAT IS SUDOKU?
Sudoku is a popular Japanese puzzle game that is based on the logical placement of numbers. It is a game of logic, which requires no math skills, you only need to use your brain to solve a Sudoku puzzle.
Even though it is very popular in Japan, the birthplace of the Sudoku puzzle is actually in Switzerland. Leonhard Euler created "carré latin" in the 18th century which is similar to a Sudoku puzzle. But it was not until 1979 that the first Sudoku puzzle was invented and published by American Howard Garns.
WHAT IS WORD SUDOKU?
Word Sudoku adds a twist that makes the game a little more interesting. 9 different letters are used instead of numbers. The basic goal remains the same: every row, column, and 3x3 square has to contain one of every letter used in the game.
Some of the squares in the Sudoku puzzle are shaded and those squares contain letters that can be unscrambled to find a hidden answer. If you can figure out the answer before all of the shaded squares have been filled in, the remaining letters can be used as clues to finish the Sudoku grid.
The hidden answer may use some of the letters more than once and some letters may not be used in the answer at all.
HOW TO PLAY SUDOKU ONLINE
Sudoku is a simple game to learn and a difficult game to master.
The objective of Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each square such that every row, column, and 3x3 block contains exactly one of each number.
Word Sudoku adds a twist which makes the game a little more interesting. To play Word Sudoku, use letters instead of numbers. Some of the squares in the puzzle are shaded and those squares contain letters that can be unscrambled to find a hidden clue. If you can figure out the clue before all of the shaded spaces have been filled in, the remaining letters can be used as clues to finish the Sudoku grid.
The hidden clue may use some of the letters more than once and some may not be used at all.
HOW TO START A NEW SUDOKU PUZZLE?
Choose either Word or Number as the Puzzle Type, then click the button that corresponds to one of three levels of difficulty: Easy, Hard, or Harder. All the Sudoku puzzles at wordplays.com have one unique solution.
New puzzles will already have some values in some of the squares. These are clues and are arranged in a way that guarantees the puzzle can have only one solution. The objective is to type one value in each open square while abiding by the Sudoku rules that each row, column, and 3x3 block contain exactly one of each value.
HOW TO FIND A SUDOKU PUZZLE ON WORDPLAYS?
It is possible to find a specific puzzle by number. This is useful if you've printed a puzzle and want to return to the puzzle at wordplays.com. Just type the puzzle # in the field labeled 'Puzzle #' and click Find.
If you do not remember the puzzle #, just click Resume last puzzle and the last puzzle visited will be reloaded along with pencil marks and guesses. This feature only works when using the same browser and computer that was used when the puzzle was last visited.
USING PENCIL MARKS WHEN SOLVING A SUDOKU PUZZLE
Solving Sudoku puzzles requires tracking all of the values that can or cannot be played in each square. If you can do that in your head you should audition for The Big Bang Theory.
The rest of us will need to keep track of our work, and that can be done simply by typing more than one value in an open square. Squares with more than one value will be ignored when checking the validity of the puzzle.
5 TIPS FOR SUDOKU BEGINNERS
- Find the Definite Numbers. When solving a Sudoku puzzle there are numbers that are definitely going to go in a certain box. A good plan is to start with the number 1 and draw lines to where all the 1s are on the puzzle. You will discover that you will be able to quickly fill in many numbers and get a good start to solving the entire puzzle.
- Find Definites for All Numbers. Determining the obvious definites on the Sudoku board, you will be ready to discover the next round of definities. You will see that more and more blanks will be filled in.
- Take a Guess. Sometimes you just have to guess what number may be the right one. Through trial and error you can figure out what is right and what is wrong.
- Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day. Sudoku puzzles come in many different levels of difficulty. If you are a beginner, start with an easy puzzle and as you get more familiar with the puzzle you can progress to harder and harder puzzles.
- Don’t Get Impatient. As stated above, Sudoku puzzles come in a variety of difficulty levels. If a puzzle is taking you a long time, don’t get frustrated. Exercising your brain is a good thing. Remember Sudoku puzzles are meant to be challenging, that is all part of the fun.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SUDOKU
WHAT DOES “SUDOKU” MEAN?
Sudoku or “su doku” (su-doku) translates “number allotted” or “the number that is single” in Japanese.
HOW LONG HAS THE SUDOKU PUZZLE EXISTED?
The magazine Nikoli coined the term Sudoku in 1986. In 1979 the magazine Math Problems and Logic Puzzles published a puzzle called Number Place, which was basically a Sudoku puzzle. In the 18th century the Swiss mathematician, Leonhard Euler created a game called Magic Squares which became the basis of Sudoku.
WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE SUDOKU PUZZLE?
The rules for Sudoku are pretty simple. Complete the board so that there are different numbers in every row, column and box. The numbers that are in the grid to begin with cannot be changed.
DO YOU NEED MATH KNOWLEDGE TO PLAY SUDOKU?
The short answer is, no. You do not need mathematics knowledge in order to solve a Sudoku puzzle. Even though you don’t need to be a mathematical genius, you do need to use reasoning and logic to complete a puzzle.
WHY IS SUDOKU ADDICTIVE?
Most players like the challenge a Sudoku puzzle gives the brain. As you get older and need to exercise the brain regularly, Sudoku puzzles are a great way to focus and concentrate on a complex task. On top of being great for brain function, puzzles are fun for people who like to challenge themselves mentally.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE A SUDOKU PUZZLE?
It depends on how good you are at Sudoku puzzles. If you are doing a three-by-three Sudoku puzzle it will take between 10 to 30 minutes to complete. A four-by-four Sudoku puzzle is much more challenging and will take a lot longer to complete.
HOW MANY SOLUTIONS ARE THERE FOR A SUDOKU PUZZLE?
If a Sudoku puzzle is properly formed, there is only one solution.