Beginner · November 13
i
| 6 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | ||||
| 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| 5 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
| 3 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
Beginner sudoku is the place to start: puzzles where every cell comes from simple elimination, with no other technique to learn. If you have never played, or you are coming back after a long break, begin here.
Who this level is for
This level is for people discovering sudoku, and for anyone who wants a warm-up before a longer puzzle. All it asks is that you know the rule: each digit from 1 to 9 appears once in every row, once in every column and once in every 3×3 box.
You never have to guess. In a Beginner puzzle, every cell follows from what is already placed. If you get stuck, you have overlooked a digit, so go back through the rows one by one and you will find it.
The technique you need
One technique is enough: the Naked Single. A cell has only one digit left because every other digit already sits in its row, its column or its box. You place that digit and move on to the next cell.
A good habit is to start with the rows, columns and boxes that are nearly full. Each digit you place narrows the options of the neighboring cells and reveals new Naked Singles. The Hidden Single is not needed here, and you will meet it at the Easy level.
How to play here
This page gives you today’s Beginner puzzle, renewed every day at midnight UTC. The board menu lets you load another puzzle of the same level, so you can practice as much as you like. Hints and a check are available if you hesitate.
The daily challenge, reachable from the leaderboard, is a single timed attempt: your time counts for the daily ranking, which requires an account. Beginner puzzles are also available as PDFs, for playing with a pencil.
Moving up a level
When you finish a Beginner puzzle without stalling, move on to Easy. The change comes down to one idea: instead of looking for the cell that accepts a single digit, you look for the digit that has only one possible cell in a zone.
The daily challenge timer gives you your own benchmark. When your time keeps dropping from one day to the next, you can safely change level.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know any techniques to play Beginner sudoku?
Just one: the Naked Single, a cell that has only one digit left. There is nothing else to learn to finish a puzzle at this level.
How long does a Beginner puzzle take?
It depends on the player and on practice. The daily challenge timer gives you your own benchmark to compare from one day to the next.
Can I play without creating an account?
Yes, you can play the puzzle without an account. An account is needed for the daily challenge leaderboard and to keep your game history.
What should I do if I get stuck?
Ask for a hint, or use the check to verify what you have placed. You can also reread the Naked Single page: being stuck usually means a digit went unnoticed.