The first time any of us look at number orientated games, we wonder how on earth we are supposed to play them. Sudoku is one of the most popular games on the web at the moment, because of its simple genius. So how do you play?
In contrast to the card games you find on Party Poker, Sudoku is less about strategy and more a process of elimination. The objective of the game is to fill all of the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each grid has 9 sub-sections filled with 9 squares each. You have to make sure that all of the numbers line up in correlation with those outside of their box.
- Every row of numbers must include the digits 1 to 9. They can be in any order.
- Every column of 9 numbers must have the digits 1 to 9 in them. Again, it can be in any order.
- Every 3, by 3 subsection of 9 squares must have these digits too.
You can’t have two numbers the same in any row. For example the row 1 2 7 4 6 8 3 5 3, is the wrong combination because it is missing the number 9 and repeats the digit 3.
How to work out the pattern:
- Every game of Sudoku will begin with squares already filled in for you. This will allow you to work out the pattern from there. The more squares initially filled out, the easier the puzzle.
- Scan the rows and columns to see where certain numbers might go. A lot of it is a process of elimination, working out which numbers are missing in the first place. Remember to check up the column, across the rows and each sub-section for discrepancies.
It takes a while to get used to, but once you know the formula, you progress easily to to the difficult puzzles. Before you know it you are a pro.