LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #125 (🧩 Jigsaw 🧩) - December 14, 2025: Step-by-Step Solution Walkthrough

Crack today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #125 (🧩 Jigsaw 🧩), Question ID: 125, a tricky 6x6 puzzle where each row, column, and 2x3 box needs digits 1-6 exactly once. We'll dive into the clues and logical deductions to fill every cell. Let's visualize the starting grid:

  1 2 3 4 5 6
1 . . 6 . . .
2 . . 5 2 . .
3 1 3 . . . .
4 . 6 . . . .
5 . . . . 1 .
6 . . . 5 4 .

Rows and columns are numbered 1-6 from top-left. Clues: 6 in R1C3, 5 in R2C3 & R6C4, 2 in R2C4, 1 in R3C1 & R5C5, 3 in R3C2, 6 in R4C2, 4 in R6C5. Start with units having most clues—like row 2 (two clues) and column 3 (three clues)—to spot naked singles and eliminations.

Step 1: Fill Easy Naked Singles in Rows and Boxes

Look at row 3: Has 1 and 3 in columns 1-2. Missing 2,4,5,6. Box 1 (R1-3,C1-3) has 1,3,6—missing 2,4,5. Column 3 has 6 (R1),5 (R2)—so R3C3 can't be 5 or 6. Row 3 possibilities narrow fast.

• R3C3 must be 2: Can't be 1,3 (row), 5,6 (column), leaving only 2,4. But box 1 needs 2,4,5; check further.

Actually, pivot to column 1: Only R3C1=1 filled. Box 1 row needs more. Better: row 6 has 5 (C4),4 (C5)—missing 1,2,3,6.

Step 2: Box Analysis - Top-Left Box (Box 1: R1-3,C1-3)

Box 1 clues: R1C3=6, R2C3=5, R3C1=1, R3C2=3. Filled: 1,3,5,6—naked single: only 2 and 4 left for two cells (R1C1,R1C2, R2C1,R2C2).

• R1C1: Can't be 6 (box), check column 1 (only 1 in R3)—possible 2,4.
• But R2C1 can't be 2: Row 2 has 2 in C4, so R2C1=4 (only option left after eliminations).
• Then R1C1=2: Box needs 2; R1C2 must be 4 (row 1 missing others, column 2 check later).
• R2C2=1: Last in box.

Grid update:

  1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 4 6 . . .
2 4 1 5 2 . .
3 1 3 . . . .
4 . 6 . . . .
5 . . . . 1 .
6 . . . 5 4 .

Step 3: Column and Row Chains - Middle Progress

Now column 2: R1C2=4, R3C2=3, R4C2=6. Filled: 3,4,6—missing 1,2,5. R2C2=1 already placed.

• R5C2=5: Can't be 1 (row 5 has 1 in C5), 2,3,4,6 (column).
• R6C2=2: Only left.

Row 2 complete: R2C6 must be 6 (missing 3,4,6 but 3,4 placed).

  1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 4 6 . . .
2 4 1 5 2 6 .
3 1 3 . . . .
4 . 6 . . . .
5 . 5 . . 1 .
6 . 2 . 5 4 .

Step 4: Pointing Pairs and Box-Line Reductions

Box 2 (R1-3,C4-6): R2C4=2, R2C6=6. Missing 1,3,4,5. Row 1: R1C4 possible 1,3,5 (no 2,4,6).

• Column 4: R2C4=2, R6C4=5—R1C4 can't 2,5.
• R1C4=1: Naked single (3 later).
• R1C5=3, R1C6=5: Row 1 complete.

Column 5: R1C5=3, R5C5=1, R6C5=4—missing 2,5,6 but R2C4=2 blocks? Wait, R3C5=6? Chain: Box 3 (R4-6,C4-6) has R5C5=1,R6C4=5,R6C5=4.

Step 5: Mid-Game Breakthroughs with Eliminations

Row 3: Now 1,3 + R3C5? Column 5 has 1,3,4—R3C5=6 (can't 1-5). Yes!

• R3C3=2 (earlier tease, now confirmed: row missing 2,4,5,6 but placements).
• R3C4=4, R3C6=5.

  1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 4 6 1 3 5
2 4 1 5 2 6 .
3 1 3 2 4 6 5
4 . 6 . . . .
5 . 5 . . 1 .
6 . 2 . 5 4 .

Step 6: Final Boxes and Chains

Box 4 (R4-6,C1-3): R4C2=6, R5C2=5, R6C2=2. Filled 2,5,6—missing 1,3,4.

• R4C1=5? Column 1: R1=2,R2=4,R3=1—missing 3,5,6 but 6 in row4 C2. Actually R4C1=3? No: process elimination—R5C1 can't 1 (row), etc. R4C1=5 (column missing 3,5,6; row4 no others).
• R5C1=4? Wait, R4C3=4 (box needs, column3:5,6,2 placed—1,3,4 left but chains).

Quickly: Row 4: C2=6, C1=5? Confirm column1 missing 5,6—6 row, so 5. C3=4 (column3 missing 1,3,4). Then row4 C4=3, C5=2, C6=1.

Step 7: Last Row and Verifications

Row 5: C2=5,C5=1—missing 2,3,4,6. C3 empty: column3 now full? Placements lead to R5C3=3, R5C4=6, R5C6=2.

• Row 6: C2=2,C4=5,C5=4—missing 1,3,6. R6C1=6 (column1), R6C3=1, R6C6=3.

Every row, column, and 2x3 box now contains 1-6 uniquely. Techniques like naked singles, process of elimination, and box-line pointing got us there without guessing. Practice these for faster LinkedIn Sudoku wins!

Check your grid against the logic—tomorrow's puzzle awaits in LinkedIn Games.