Tips For Sudoku Beginners & Reasons To Play It

One game that is fun to play and engage with is Sudoku. There are many opportunities to do it online when you are feeling bored and want to relax and have some fun.

You may have heard about the game but don’t know much about playing it. Here you can gain some tips for Sudoku beginners so that you can get started playing right away.

What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is essentially a game or puzzle having to do with numbers. It’s a grid of nine squares that are then divided into nine smaller squares. Your goal is to get every number filled in so that the numbers are in order from one to nine with no repeats. You must get the numbers to count from one to nine horizontally and vertically.

Why Sudoku is Good for Your Mind

Playing puzzles or games is a great way to keep your mind sharp. It’s essentially a memory-training activity that you can do right from your phone. It’s a great exercise for your brain because it forces you to think ahead of what your next move may be. Your brain will start to function better when you are good about challenging it.

Concentration

One way Sudoku is good for your brain is that it helps improve concentration. It forces you to apply critical thinking skills. You have to focus on what you are doing and not be distracted if you want to win.

Memory

It also will help boost your memory when you play Sudoku often. You must keep track of all the different numbers and their locations. You’ll find you have a sharper memory when you play this game often.

Learning

As you get better at it you’re going to start to learn more about the game and the best techniques for playing it. It’s beneficial that you are always learning and developing your brain even as you age. Sudoku is a game that requires you to think logically as you place each new number in a box.

It’s Fun

Another reason you may want to playSudoku is that it is fun and entertaining. It’s a great way to relax after a long day or to play when you are bored. You won’t be thinking about your to-do list while playing so it can also help reduce stress.

The Sudoku Rules

It’s wise to start by learning the rules of Sudoku before you dive in and play. The good news is that the rules are fairly simple to learn. You must fill each square with the numbers from one to nine without any repeats. You must do so both vertically and horizontally. Your goal is to not have any repeated numbers in any of the squares or lines and rows up and down.

Every time you play there will be some numbers that are already filled in for you. This will help you start to fill the squares accordingly by knowing which numbers you can’t repeat. The puzzle will be more difficult the fewer numbers that are filled in. As a beginner, you’re going to want to start by playing the games or boards that are made for your level.

Tips to Get You Started

Any time you’re faced with a new challenge and are a beginner it’s best to learn some techniques and pieces of advice for getting started. This will make playing the game easier on yourself so you don’t become frustrated.

Look for the Easiest Solutions

Start by looking for all the easy solutions when you are first starting out playing Sudoku. There will be some blank spaces that you will be able to fill in quite easily right away. There will be blanks in a box or a line and it will be obvious which number should go there. Look for the missing numbers in the smaller boxes as well as vertically and horizontally. You will be able to start to narrow down which numbers to fill in next when you start narrowing it down.

Look for the Missing Numbers

You will begin to figure out which other numbers to fill in when you look for the easiest solutions first. Next, you can look for the missing numbers that are the easiest to place. You can start to fill in more numbers within the smaller boxes and in each row as you see fit.

Scan the Entire Puzzle Repeatedly

As a beginner, you may feel stuck at times when you are playing sudoku. Instead of getting frustrated or giving up you can choose to keep scanning the entire puzzle. Avoid concentrating too much of your attention on one part of the grid. Keep the whole picture of what you are trying to do in mind. This way you may be more prone to finding other solutions that are present in other parts of the grid.

Always be Re-Evaluating the Grid

As you play sudoku, you should constantly be re-evaluating the entire grid. Place a new number and then take the time to see if it opens up a new box or row. It can help you narrow down the possibilities and you may be able to discover where another number can be played. Sometimes the next number to fill in will become obvious to you and other times it won’t. You may find solutions more quickly if you keep asking yourself which numbers are missing in the line or 3x3 box.

Be Patient & Have Fun

Another tip for sudoku beginners is to make sure that you are always patient and that you are having fun. It’s a game that is supposed to challenge you and make you think. You can’t take it too seriously or you may feel like giving up. Take your time filling in the grid and lines and make sure you aren’t repeating any numbers that don’t belong. It ultimately should be a relaxing activity for you. You can always take a break or walk away for some time before going back to the grid and trying to play another number.

Advice for Playing Sudoku

There is also some beginner advice that you can use to make playing sudoku more fun and not allow yourself to give up too quickly. Ideally, you should never guess where the next number should go. There will always be a way to tell if the number you are placing is correct or not. Keep your eyes open and scan the entire board for opportunities to place a new number.

You should also always be constantly re-evaluating the board as a whole. Step back each time you play and see if what you did opens up an opportunity to place another number in the correct spot. Every number you play will put you one step closer to solving the puzzle entirely. You should stay relaxed and focus on number hunting so you can eventually reach a conclusion and solve the puzzle.

Best Techniques

There are also certain techniques that will help you become a better sudoku player. Start the game by looking for forced solutions where a number must go. Then you can begin placing more correct numbers and work your way toward solving the entire puzzle correctly. As time passes, you’ll get better at placing the numbers and faster at solving each puzzle.

Another technique is to work on eliminating possible numbers that won’t go in certain small boxes. Eliminate certain numbers for consideration which will help put you one step closer to placing a correct number in a box or row. Your number one strategy or technique as a beginner should be to keep scanning through each row or column for possible numbers that can be played correctly.

Once you place a number then step back and re-evaluate the board as a whole. You will start to gain momentum as you fill in more numbers but don’t let this distract you. You want to avoid guessing and playing numbers that might be a solution. Instead, you should make certain that the number you play is in the correct spot. Always look for the easiest opportunities first when you begin a new game.

Avoiding Frustration

While sudoku can be fun and relaxing to play it can also be frustrating at times. As a beginner, you should always start with the easiest boards first. These are boards that are labeled for beginners and will have more numbers filled in right from the start. You can avoid becoming frustrated by not playing guessing games. Instead, you should always confirm that the number you place in a small box is the right one.

You may also want to take breaks every so often or step away when you feel yourself getting stuck. It’s normal to feel stuck at times when you are playing sudoku. Remember to keep a bird’s eye view and to scan over the entire puzzle instead of getting locked into a certain area on the board. The easy and medium boards will contain more patterns than the ones listed as difficult. Patterns will start to emerge in the hard puzzles but may not be apparent right away.

Best Practices for Playing Sudoku

There are also some best practices for playing sudoku that you should be aware of and try to implement. You will have a better appreciation for the game and solve more puzzles when you apply these tips.

Don’t Repeat Numbers: The most basic rule when playing sudoku is that you can’t repeat any numbers. Whenever you place a new number in a small box you should double-check that it’s not repeated in the row, column, or smaller 3x3 box.

Avoid Guessing Games: You should never play guessing games when you are involved in a sudoku game. You should always be 100 percent certain that the number should be placed where you put it and that it’s not being repeated. Each cell will have a correct number that is to be placed in it. There will always only be one right number that belongs in each cell.

Pencil Mark Your Ideas: As a beginner, you may want to get out the pencil if you are playing sudoku on paper. You can try to list possible numbers that can go in each smaller cell using a pencil. This will help you narrow down your options and allow you to avoid repeating numbers.

Once you get more comfortable playing sudoku you will become faster at solving each puzzle. However, always take your time and make sure that the numbers you are playing are in the correct place.

Tips & Tricks for Beginners

Any time you are teaching yourself a new game or taking on a new challenge there will be a learning curve involved. The same goes for when you are a beginner trying to play sudoku. There are some tips and tricks that can help you have a more enjoyable time playing the game.

Know Where to Start

The first number you play will be the most important one because it will lead you to other solutions. The hardest part can sometimes be placing the first correct number in the grid. Look at the rows, columns, and 3x3 boxes that have the most numbers filled in. This will help you see and realize which number should be played next. There will be fewer possibilities of which numbers can be played which will help you fill in your first number. Look at which numbers are listed in the grid the most times. This may help you figure out where the first number should be played.

Look for Single Possibilities

Next, be on the lookout for single candidates. This means that a particular cell can only have one possible number that can go in it. Always start in the areas that have the most digits already filled in.

Always Be Scanning the Board

As a beginner, you may find yourself always focusing on one area of the board. This is not going to help you solve the puzzle any quicker. Instead, you should focus on and work on your scanning skills. This will allow you to identify numbers that you can place that will be in their correct spot. Remember to scan the different rows, columns, and 3x3 boxes. There’s a lot that you should be paying attention to so it’s best to start slow and make sure you’re filling in the right numbers. Avoid focusing too long at one place on the board at a time.

Focus on Your Momentum

You also want to make sure that you are not distracted and can fully focus on what you’re doing when playing sudoku. This is because you will begin to place numbers more quickly and will want to concentrate on your momentum. If you stop and take too many breaks you may not be able to do this as easily. This is another reason why it’s so important that you are always scanning the board for new solutions and where to play your next number.

Use the Process of Elimination

Once again, you never want to play guessing games when you are working on sudoku puzzles. This is especially true when you move on from the beginner levels to the harder options. Instead of guessing what numbers can go next you can use the process of elimination. These puzzles use the system of logical deduction. There will always be a next right answer of where you can put your next number. You should never have to guess where to play your next number when you’re playing the game. Go slow if you have to and remember to practice patience when you are involved in a sudoku game.

Try to Find A Strategy

You’re not going to be a beginner at sudoku forever. The more you play the more you’re going to want to try more difficult levels. So you should focus on having a strategy that works for you. The harder the puzzle is the more difficult your strategies will become to apply. This is the opportunity to expand your critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. The game will be more fun when you begin to solve the puzzles correctly even as you take on harder challenges. Go easy on yourself when you are first learning and take on the harder puzzles once you feel comfortable with the easy levels.

Conclusion

The best part is that you can play sudoku online from your computer or phone. We offer you the chance to play it around the clock through our website. There are a wide variety of levels and games that you can choose to tackle. Once you are done with the easy levels you can work your way up to medium, hard, and even expert options. We offer the best free online sudoku games and experience out there. Keep in mind that the more you play it the better you’ll get and the less frustration you will feel. You should now have some tips and good ideas to help get you started as a beginner who wants to play sudoku. It’s a fun way to pass the time and a great opportunity to relax and be entertained.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.