How To Play Sudoku Part 1 – What is Sudoku?

Welcome to the Sudoku Guide

We’ve developed this handy resource with but one goal in mind; to give you an exhaustive and comprehensive collection of Sudoku information, tips, and strategies in one handy reference guide. Whether you’re new to the intricacies of the game, or a burgeoning master of the numbers, this guide will provide you with valuable inside on one of the most enjoyable, frustrating, challenging, and rewarding games yet conceived: Sudoku.

What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is a puzzle/game that first appeared in the 1970’s, but remained in relative obscurity until the early 2000’s. Since then it’s become a mainstay in newspapers across the world, and spawned dozens of offshoots and variations.

In Sudoku, the player is presented with a board consisting of 81 cells arranged in a 9×9 formation. The board is further broken down into 9 3×3 boxes. The goal of Sudoku is to use the numbers 1-9 in such a way that each row, column, and box has one of each of these digits, and only 1. Each board comes with several numbers already scattered across the board, which cannot be changed, and set the tone for the entire puzzle. You can see an example of a random Sudoku board below.

The appeal of Sudoku lies in the broad difficulty the game can present, from simple to infuriating, which allows users of all skill levels to play at an appropriate level. Sudoku also offers a wide range of techniques that can be used to solve puzzles, from simple to complex.

And that’s where the real charm of the game can be found, as every board can be solved through nothing but logical deductions. There’s no guesswork or trial and error necessary, though these are oft utilised techniques as well.

This style of game stimulates the mind, and completing a Sudoku board offers a sense of accomplishment that is unmatched by most other games. Of course, reaching the point where you can complete a puzzle (such as the one from above in its finished state below) will take some practice, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

First let’s get started with some terminology so you’ll know what the heck we’re talking about when we dig into some strategies.