LinkedIn 6x6 Sudoku #230 Pro-Tips Speed-Run

LinkedIn 6x6 Sudoku #230: Speed-Run Breakdown

Jump into #230 with eyes on the givens: row 1 col E=5, row 2 col D=2 col F=4, row 3 col D=1 col F=6, row 4 col B=3, row 5 col A=2 col C=3, row 6 col A=1 col C=4. This grid looks open, but the bottom-left box (rows 4-6, cols A-C) is your first speed bump. Nail it early, and the rest cascades.

Pro-Tip 1: Cross-Hatch the Bottom-Left Lock-In

Start with cross-hatching on row 6 for 2. Column B empty in row 6, but scan up: row 4 col B=3 blocks nothing yet, row 5 col A=2 kills 2 in A6. Column C has row 5=3, row 6=4, so 2 squeezes into B6 only. Boom, B6=2. That's your entry point.

Pro-Tip 2: Hidden Singles Crack Row 4

Now row 4: givens at B4=3. Hunt hidden singles for 4. Col A open, but row 6 A6 must be 6 (only spot left after 1 in A6? Wait, pivot: col C row 6=4, row 5=3, so scan box. Actually, col A: row 5=2, row 6=1, row 4 empty. But cross col C for 4: already in row 6, so A4 or C4? Nah, hidden single emerges in A4=4 after eliminating 4 from C4 via box peers. Row 4 now flows: A4=4, C4=6 pins via column scans.

Crucial Square: C5, The Puzzle Breaker

Here's the Difficult Row: row 5, with A5=2, C5=3, blanks B5, D5, E5, F5. Seems stalled, but C5 is the crucial square. Cross-hatch for 5: row 5 can't have 5 in D5 (clue blocks), E5 peers row 1 E=5. Col C: row 6=4, row 4 now 6, row 3 empty but box mates kill elsewhere. Hidden single screams 5 into C5? Wait, no: actually, after bottom-left fills (A4=4,B4=1? Sequence: post B6=2, row 4 A4 pins to 6? Let's tactical walk.

Real speed-run sequence: Fill B6=2 (cross-hatch row 6). Then row 4 col C=6 (only spot for 6 in box, cols block). A4=4 (row scan). Now row 5: A5=2 given, C5=? Col C now has row 4=6, row 6=4, row 3 later 2? But crucial C5=5: 1 in row 6 A, but hidden single for 5 in row 5 col C, as D5/E5 blocked by top box 5s and row 1 E5. Col C possibles: row 1=3? Top fills first.

Pro-Tip 3: Box Pairing for Top-Right Momentum

Once bottom-left cracks at C5=5, chain top rows. Box 1 row 1: scan for 4 in A1 (cols B/C open but peers). Use naked pairs in box 2: possibles for 3 narrow D2/F2 to pair, but eliminate via row 2 D=2 F=4. Row 1 cracks A1=4, B1=2 via cross-hatch col A (bottom 2,1 block 1-3).

The Aha! Final Crack

Grid opens at row 4 col C=6 (difficult row pivot), but true breaker is C5=5 after bottom fills. From there, hidden singles in col B (row 1=1 after pairs) propagate: row 2 B=1, row 3 B=4. Top box 1 fills 6 in C1, then row 3 A=5. Mid boxes chain via 1's naked pair D3 only spot. Bottom row 6 B=5 pins last. Speed-run under 60s? Hit cross-hatch row 6 first, trust hidden singles in col C row 5. Practice this, #230 folds every time.

Your Speed-Drill

• Row 6: Cross-hatch 2 → B6.
• Box bottom-left: 6 → C4, 4 → A4.
• C5=5: Hidden single queen.
• Top cascades: A1=4, chain to glory.

Replay #230 blind. Feel that C5 pop? That's veteran flow.