Medium · November 13
i
| 1 | 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 7 | 4 | 8 | |||||
| 6 | 8 | |||||||
| 4 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
| 5 | 9 | 4 | ||||||
| 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2 | 3 | |||||||
| 1 | 6 | 9 | 5 | |||||
| 8 | 6 |
Medium sudoku uses the same techniques as the Easy level, but asks you to chain them for longer. It is the level where you build consistency before the first eliminations.
Who this level is for
Medium suits players who finish Easy puzzles without trouble and want to go the distance. It introduces no new technique: progress comes by accumulation, not in big jumps. A puzzle needs more deductions in a row, so a bit more focus and patience.
It is also the level of the puzzle on the Daily Sudoku page. If you already play it, you know the format.
The techniques you need
The required techniques are the same as at Easy level: the Naked Single, where a cell has only one digit left, and the Hidden Single, where a digit has only one possible cell in a zone.
When you are stuck, do not rush to a more advanced technique. Reread the grid from a different angle: go from cells to digits, or the other way around. Most of the time, a single has slipped past you.
How to play here
This page gives you today’s Medium puzzle, renewed every day at midnight UTC. The board menu lets you load another puzzle of the same level. Hints and a check are available during the game.
The daily challenge, reachable from the leaderboard, is a single timed attempt: your time counts for the daily ranking, which requires an account. Medium puzzles can also be printed as PDFs.
Moving up to Hard
Hard introduces pointing and claiming pairs, then naked and hidden pairs. These are elimination techniques: instead of placing a digit, you remove possibilities from neighboring cells.
To get ready, jot down the digits still possible in the empty cells when nothing else comes. The Learn page presents each technique with a demonstration and puzzles to practice on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Medium and Easy sudoku?
The techniques are the same. A Medium puzzle asks you to chain them for longer, with more deductions in a row.
How long does a Medium 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.
Do I need to note candidates to finish a Medium puzzle?
The required techniques are the singles, which many players spot without notes. Noting candidates is still a good way to avoid missing anything.
When should I move up to Hard?
When Medium puzzles regularly finish without a stall. Hard requires elimination techniques, which you can first explore on the Learn page.