LinkedIn 6x6 Sudoku #262 Pro-Tips Speed-Run

LinkedIn 6x6 Sudoku #262: Speed-Run Pro-Tips

LinkedIn 6x6 Sudoku #262 hits with sparse givens: 1s at (1,2) and (3,6), 2 at (1,4), 3 at (2,3), 4 at (2,2), 5 at (4,1), 6s scattered at (4,5), (5,4), (6,3). Boxes are 2x3 in this mini beast. Start fast: scan for naked singles, then cross-hatch ruthlessly. Momentum builds quick here.

Opening Moves: Cross-Hatching 1s and 2s

Eye the top-left box. Row 1 blocks 1 and 2 already. Column 2 has a 1 down in row 2. Cross-hatch: slash rows/columns with 1s. Only one spot left for 1 in box 1? Bam, naked single drops row 1 col 1 to 4. No guessing.

Shift to 2s. Row 1 has one, row 3 empty in its box. Columns 1 and 5 open. Cross-hatch pins 2 to row 2 col 1. Chain reaction: fills row 2 col 2 with 6 via elimination in box 2.

Hidden Singles Strike: Row 3 Momentum

Row 3 fights back early. Givens: 4 at col 2, 1 at col 6. Box 4 empty except row 4 col 1 (5). For 2 in row 3: column checks block col 1 (just filled), col 4 open but box mates nix it. Only col 3 fits. Hidden single: 2 locks row 3 col 3.

Re-scan 6s in row 3 box 3. 6 in row 4 col 5 blocks col 5. Column 6 has 1. Pins 6 to row 3 col 1. Row 3 cracks wide: 5 next via last remaining.

Crucial Square: Row 5 Col 5 - The Grid-Breaker

Grid stalls mid-game. Boxes half-full, row 5 brutal: givens at col 4 (6), col 6 empty. Cross-hatch 1s in box 5. Row 4 has 6 at col 5, row 6 has 1 at col 5. Columns 1-3 filled elsewhere. Only row 5 col 5 takes 1. Hidden single explodes it.

That 1 ripples: row 5 col 1 to 5 (box mates clear), col 2 to 4. Box 6 gets 3 at row 6 col 2 via elimination. Row 6 col 1 fills 3. Cascade finishes row 5: 2 at col 3, 6 already col 4, 1 col 5, 3 col 6.

Closeout: Box-by-Box Scanning

Post-crack, naked singles everywhere. Row 4 col 2 to 3 (row mates). Cross-hatch 4s in box 2 pins row 2 col 4. Final boxes fall: check candidates per cell, eliminate row/col/box hits. Last row 1 col 3? Only 5 fits.

Pro-Tips for #262 Speed-Runs

• Cross-hatch per number, box-first: 1s and 2s unlock top. Repeat after every fill.
• Hunt hidden singles in tough rows: Row 3 and 5 hide killers. Ask: "Where can X go here?" One spot? Place it.
• Crucial square drill: Row 5 col 5. Fill around it first, forces the hidden 1.
• Re-scan relentlessly: One placement births 3-5 more. Never stop.
• 6x6 edge: Fewer cells mean faster chains. Pencil candidates light, erase on kills.

Sub-2-minute solve once you nail row 5 col 5. Practice this grid: it's your 6x6 trainer. Hit it again, faster.