Alphabetical Sudoku The past few years have seen the emergence of alphabetical Sudoku, also known as Wordoku. So far, the largest Sudoku ever published was a 100 x 100 grid. You might also come across larger grids, such as 12 x 12 grids with 12 regions comprising 4 x 3 boxes. Examples include 4 x 4 grids with 2 x 2 subgrids, 6 x 6 grids with 2 x 3 subgrids, 5 x 5 grids with pentomino blocks, and 7 x 7 grids with heptomino boxes. However, it’s not unusual to come across smaller variants of the puzzle. Grid size and/or block shape The 9 x 9 grid with 3 x 3 subgrids remains the most popular Sudoku shape and size. For instance, you may come across puzzles that require you to ensure that the main diagonals of the grid also feature unique number combinations. While some puzzles can be solved by just about anyone, others may require vast experience in the game to crack. Complexity The most common Sudoku variation is in relation to its complexity. Sudoku puzzles generally vary based on the following parameters: 1. Related 70 Negative Words Starting With S Sudoku VariationsĪlthough Sudoku has largely retained its basic functional elements and core objective, the puzzle has also spawned numerous variations over time. In 2004, the first Sudoku appeared in the US and UK, after Wayne Gould designed a computer program that would produce unique puzzles en masse. The company went on to name the puzzle ‘Sudoku’, which means ‘single number.’ The following years saw a consistent rise in the popularity of Sudoku puzzles. Before publication by Nikoli, Sudoku went under various names, depending on the region it was played. However, it was not until 1986 when the modern Sudoku puzzle was first published officially by Japanese puzzle company, Nikoli. In 1979, the puzzle began to appear in puzzle books, where it was initially known as Number Place.

Sudoku continued to gain widespread popularity throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. These puzzles were relatively easier to solve than most modern Sudoku puzzles. The first variations of the modern Sudoku puzzles appeared in French newspapers in the 19th century.

Sudoku has been around for hundreds of years. The smaller 3 x 3 subgrids are also known as blocks, boxes, or regions. In an ideal Sudoku puzzle, the objective of the game is to fill a 9 x 9 grid with digits 1 – 9, such that you only use each digit once in each row, column, and the 3 x 3 subgrids comprising the larger grid. Sudoku, originally known as Number Puzzle, refers to a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle game.

1) First things first…understand the objective of the game.

Sudoku tips for beginners