WHAT IS SU-DOKU?
A Su Doku puzzle is a grid of 81 small squares (cells) arranged in a larger square. The grid is also divided into nine 3x3 blocks.
The objective is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the grid so that each horizontal line of nine cells, each vertical line of nine cells, and each 3x3 small block contains one, and only one of each number.
To start you off, the puzzle creator has helpfully placed some numbers for you. Using these numbers, it is possible, using only logic, to deduce the values of all of the other numbers in the grid. The more numbers there are to start with, and the skill with which they are placed determine the difficulty of the puzzle.
Puzzles vary in complexity from easy to fiendish. Sometimes the puzzle creator will describe a puzzle as fiendish, only for the solver to devour it in five minutes. A little luck sometimes helps in spotting the secrets in the puzzle.
The experienced Su Doku puzzle solver should be able to complete an easy puzzle in a few minutes. 'Mild' puzzles taking only slightly longer, and 'difficult' puzzles about half an hour. Fiendish puzzles take longer. Sometimes much longer!
The game comes from Japan where it is also incredibly popular. Su Doku is a Japanese phrase meaning Number Place. What makes Su-Doku so popular is that, despite it being based on numbers, the game relies solely on logic and employs absolutely no mathematics.
One possible reason it is so popular in Japan is probably because the Japanese language does not lend itself easily to crossword puzzles, so they do Su Doku instead.
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