Sudoku
Classic 9×9, easy to evil
Puzzle No. 1 ·
Play today's sudokuThe classic number puzzle: fill a 9×9 grid so every row, column and 3×3 box holds the digits 1 to 9. Play today's puzzle, the same one for everyone, or as many as you like at five levels. Every puzzle has one solution and can be solved by logic alone.
Five levels
| Level | Digits given | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 36–40 | Only naked and hidden singles |
| Medium | 28–34 | At least one pointing pair or box/line reduction; nothing harder |
| Hard | 24–32 | At least one naked or hidden pair or triple; nothing harder |
| Expert | 24–30 | One or two X-Wing or XY-Wing steps |
| Evil | 24–26 | A Swordfish, or three or more X-Wing / XY-Wing steps |
How to play
- Fill the 9×9 grid so every row holds the digits 1 to 9 once each.
- Every column also holds 1 to 9 once each.
- The thick lines split the grid into nine 3×3 boxes (numbered 1 to 9, left to right, top to bottom). Each box holds 1 to 9 once each too.
- The digits you start with are fixed. Tap an empty square, then a number. Turn on Notes to pencil in the digits a square might hold.
Rules, first steps and every technique, with examples →
Hints that teach
Stuck? Hint fills in the next square that can be worked out and tells you why, for example "In box 5, 7 fits in only one square" or "Before that, an X-Wing rules out the other squares". If a digit you entered is wrong, Hint points it out first.
Questions
Is this sudoku free?
Yes. No account, no download, no limit on how many you play. The site may show ads on some pages.
Does every puzzle have exactly one solution?
Yes. A solver checks every puzzle before it is shown, and a second solver checks that it can be finished by logic alone, so no level ever needs a guess.
How are the five levels different?
By the hardest technique a puzzle needs, from singles only (easy) to Swordfish or several X-Wings (evil). The table above lists them, with how many digits each level starts with.
When does the daily sudoku change?
At 00:00 UTC: 8 pm in New York during daylight saving time, 8 am in Beijing. Everyone gets the same puzzle, easy on Monday and Tuesday, medium Wednesday to Friday and hard at the weekend.
Can I print these puzzles?
Yes. The printable sudoku page makes a sheet of 1, 2, 4 or 6 puzzles at any level, with the answers on a second page.
Is this the same as Mini Sudoku?
No. Mini Sudoku is a 6×6 grid with digits 1 to 6, the size LinkedIn uses. This is the classic 9×9.