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About medium puzzles
Medium puzzles start with 28–34 digits and need one step beyond singles at least once: a pointing pair, or its mirror, the box/line reduction. Both come from the same observation: when a digit's only places in a box all sit in one row, that row's other squares can't have it. Nothing harder than that is needed.
Press New puzzle for another one at this level. Every puzzle has exactly one solution.
All 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 |
Questions
What makes a puzzle medium rather than easy?
Singles alone get stuck at least once. Our solver has to use a pointing pair or a box/line reduction to go on, and never anything harder.
When do I start using notes?
Medium is where notes start paying off. Pencil in the options for a box that has few empty squares, and look for a digit whose options all line up.
Is medium the level of the weekday daily puzzle?
Yes. The daily sudoku is easy on Monday and Tuesday, medium from Wednesday to Friday and hard at the weekend.