How to play SUDOKU

Simply fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeated. Click your mouse in one of the squares to insert a number and click again to change. You can type in 5 practice numbers in the top of each box above the dashed line using your keyboard.

The Sudoku puzzle consists of 81 squares divided into nine 3 x 3 blocks. Some of the squares already have numbers in them.

To solve a Sudoku puzzle you have to use the numbers 1-9 to fill in the blank spaces so that each row, each column and each 3 x 3 square has all the numbers 1-9 appearing once. Some puzzles are quite simple to solve while others are very tricky.

The only thing you need to solve a Sudoku number place puzzle is logic. You don’t need any mathematical knowledge. In the easier puzzles you may be able to see straight away where a particular number goes. Focusing on one particular blank square at a time, scan its row, column & block.

Any numbers that already appear cannot be used to fill the blank. When you determine which numbers cannot be used you can see which numbers can be used.

If only one number in the sequence is missing (to make the numbers 1-9 appear once only across and down), then this is the number you are looking for, so fill it into the space.

If there is no place where only one number can fit to make the 1-9 sequence of numbers in the row, column and 3 x 3 box, then make note of the possible numbers above the dashed line in the boxes. You can do this in all the blank squares and you will soon see a place where a particular number has to be the answer.

As you fill in the numbers you eliminate the possible numbers available to fill in other spaces. Continue filling the numbers until every square is filled and the columns, rows and 3 x 3 blocks all contain the numbers 1-9