Do you play Sudoku

Puzzles and brain-teasers of various kinds have always fascinated manking. To play Sudoku is one way to satisfy this need for problem solving, and the goal is the same as in any other kind of puzzle - to find the solution. It doesn't really matter if you play the game on a handheld Sudoku console or on paper, there will always be a certain flow to solwing the puzzle.

If you have never played Sudoku, or think you know too little about it, this article will give you a basic overview of how one can go about solving a Sudoku puzzle and some rudimentary Sudoku strategies.

First of all, you will naturally have to know the basic rules of Sudoku. Secondly, you should try to find out what playing style would suit you best - as you know we humans have different ways to reason.

After being able to clearly understand all the factors included in the game, you will now arrive at a very essential aspect, which is the solution method. In Sudoku, there are actually three processes that are combined together in solving the problem given to you.

The scanning process

Scanning is carried out at the beginning and throughout the entire game. This can be done only in between the analysis period. It incorporates two essential Sudoku techniques; Cross-hatching that involves the process of eliminating numbers from the rows or columns. And the Counting method - which is utilized in identifying the missing numerals that will help in speeding up your search. A player tries to come up with all the possible contingencies during the process of scanning.

The marking up process

This starts as soon as you are done scanning. It is the time when the player couldn't find any further numeral that can be discovered. It is the turning point for your logical analysis. At this stage, it will be very helpful to make a few notes on the blank cell for your guidance. Your notation can be represented by either a subscript or a dot. Or whatever works for you.

The analysis process

Analysis is the final part of the Sudoku playing process. It involves two main approaches; The so-called "candidate elimination" and the "what-if". Using the first approach, progress is made by sequentially removing the candidate numerals until there is only one possibility left. For every solution achieved, another scanning can be done. Several methods of candidate elimination can also be applicable; through matching of the cells or matching of the numerals.

The "what if" approach will somehow include guessing, although you will still need to follow your logical choice of number. A cell that has only two candidate numerals is chosen and then you can make your own guess.

On a funny side note, in Sudoku puzzles, the lesser the numerical figures that are given the easier it is to solve while the more average numbers given are more difficult. Thus, the level of difficulty is not being gauged on the quantity of the given number but with the positioning of the digit.

The above was a brief explanation of the thought process most people employ to play Sudoku. It is a logical, step-by-step method that works very well. However, as you play more and more Sudoku, you may come up with varieties or even entirely new ways to play Sudoku efficiently.

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