Medium Sudoku

Medium puzzles give you 27 to 33 numbers. Many can still be solved with singles, but you’ll have to look harder, and some need one of the first elimination techniques. Par is 9:00.

How to solve a medium Sudoku

• Hidden single. A number that has only one possible cell left in a row, column or box. It goes there, even if that cell has other candidates.
• Pointing. If every candidate for a number inside a box sits in one row, that number must go in that row within the box. Remove it from the rest of the row. The same works for columns.
• Naked pair. Two cells in the same row, column or box with the same two candidates, say 4 and 7. Those two numbers must go in those two cells, so remove 4 and 7 from every other cell in that unit. Triples work the same way with three cells.

Playing here

Tap a cell, then a number. Turn on Notes to pencil in candidates; they clear themselves when you place a number nearby. You get three hints per game and unlimited undo. Your game saves after every move, so you can close the tab and come back to it.

Ready for more? Hard puzzles lean on these every game. Need a refresher? Easy is singles only.