This numerical puzzle game has launched itself on to the world scene over the last few months, but its origins seem to be either from the US where a version of it was designed by an American Puzzle Constructor by the name of Howard Garnes in the late 1970's. However this version of the game seems to have been around in Japan since the mid-1980's. Sudoku is a Japanese word meaning placement puzzle.
How you Play the Game
Sudoku is a very easy game to understand and the rules are very simple:
You are provided with a grid of 9 x 9 squares. Into these grids you have to place the numbers 1 to 9, but you must only list them once in each grid.
The game is played from a started grid, these means that some of the numbers you need to place are already provided and thereafter you must decide where the rest of the numbers should be placed in that grid.
It should be noted that there is only one valid solution to each puzzle.
The game can be played at varying levels of difficulty and the amount of numbers that are given to any player initially in the matrix may vary. However, some players may think that the more numbers they are given initially would make the puzzle easier to solve, but this is not always the case, as the placement of the numbers has an effect on the complexity of the puzzle.
Solving Sudoku Puzzles
The main key to have to help solve these puzzles is patience and your use of logic skills. It is not just a case of trial and error to get the right result. Some players are now constructing their own puzzle solving methods and techniques in order to get the result required, and many are now sharing these with other players online.
To begin the puzzle you may start anywhere, but for many beginners it is easier to concentrate on the top three 3 x 3 grids. They look at the initial number and then start by using the "1". By looking at these small cells you are able to decide where you will possibly put the "1" if not already used but do not forget to stick with the rules of the game. You also have to take into consideration any 3 x 3 grids that are attached to the grid you are presently looking at.
This game is very clever, but it can sometimes make you feel as if you are going round in circles. But by practicing and honing your skills on different puzzles it may help you to understand certain techniques that you can use that work and those that don't. There are a great number of puzzles that can be solved and people are now starting to time themselves on them, similar in the way people use to time themselves on how fast they could complete a Rubiks cube.
Author: Allison Thompson, now living in Spain
Allison Thompson, now lives in Spain and has 15 years experience in the property field.
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