LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #126 (Climb Up) — Step-by-step 6x6 Solution Walkthrough

Game: LinkedIn Mini Sudoku — question_id: 126 — question name: Climb Up — published: December 15, 2025

This post walks through a clear, cell-by-cell solve of the 6×6 Sudoku titled "Climb Up." The goal is to show the logical deductions used to fill every empty cell from the clues until the grid is complete. I avoid explaining general Sudoku rules and instead focus on the exact reasoning used for this puzzle so you can follow each step and reproduce the logic yourself.

Starting grid and key strategy

The puzzle is a standard 6×6, arranged as six rows (R1–R6), six columns (C1–C6) and 2×3 blocks (B1 top-left, B2 top-right, B3 middle-left, B4 middle-right, B5 bottom-left, B6 bottom-right). I proceed by scanning for units (rows, columns, boxes) with the most givens and for naked singles or forced placements. Each step below states the cell (row, column), the candidate set eliminated by row/column/box constraints, and the resulting placement.

Step-by-step placements (reasoning for every empty cell)

We describe each deduction in reading order (rows 1→6). For each empty cell we show why a particular digit must go there based on existing numbers in its row, column, and box.

• Row 1 (R1): Given digits in the row are 5 at C5 and 6 at C6. The row needs {1,2,3,4}. Look at Box B1 (R1–R2,C1–C3): because of later deductions (see placements below) the only consistent way to complete R1 is to place 4 at R1C1, 2 at R1C2, and 3 at R1C3, leaving R1C4 as 1. Each of these follows from elimination in columns and the 2×3 boxes once other rows are considered.
• R1C1 = 4: Column C1 already must avoid digits present elsewhere in C1 (see R5C1=5 and R6C1=1), leaving 4 as the only candidate consistent with the box and the row.
• R1C2 = 2: Column C2 already contains 3 (R5C2) and 5 (R4C2), and the box needs {1,2,3}, so 2 is forced into R1C2 once other placements are fixed.
• R1C3 = 3: After R1C1 and R1C2 are fixed, the only remaining value for the box and row that doesn't conflict with column C3 is 3.
• R1C4 = 1: With the other digits in row 1 placed, the only remaining digit is 1, which also fits column C4 and box constraints.
• Row 2 (R2): Given: R2C4 = 3 and R2C5 = 4. Row needs {1,2,5,6}. Examining the middle-right box (B2) and columns shows R2C1 must be 6, R2C2 = 1, and R2C3 = 5, R2C6 = 2 by elimination in their respective columns and boxes.
• R2C1 = 6: Column C1 cannot contain 4 (now in R1C1), 5 (R5C1) or 1 (R6C1), leaving 6 as the only viable candidate for R2C1.
• R2C2 = 1: With C2 containing 3 and 5 in other rows and the box needing 1, placing 1 at R2C2 satisfies both row and box demands.
• R2C3 = 5 and R2C6 = 2: These follow as the remaining digits for row 2 when checking column conflicts: C3 does not allow 1/2/3/4/6 at that position given other placements, so 5 goes in R2C3; C6 then must take 2 to complete the row.
• Row 3 (R3): Given: R3C3 = 1 and R3C4 = 2. Row needs {3,4,5,6}. Column constraints and the top-right box force R3C1 = 3, R3C2 = 4, R3C5 = 6, R3C6 = 5.
• R3C1 = 3 and R3C2 = 4: The left-top box already has 4 placed in R1C1 and 2 in R1C2; the only way to place the remaining digits without conflicting columns is 3 and 4 in R3C1 and R3C2 respectively.
• R3C5 = 6 and R3C6 = 5: Columns C5 and C6 already have 5 and 6 in other rows; checking available digits for R3 and the box, these assignments are forced by elimination.
• Row 4 (R4): Given: R4C2 = 5 and R4C3 = 6. Row needs {1,2,3,4}. Using column constraints and the middle-left box (B3) leads to R4C1 = 2, R4C4 = 4, R4C5 = 3, R4C6 = 1.
• R4C1 = 2: Column C1 already contains 4,6,3,5,1 in other rows after earlier placements, so 2 is the only valid option at R4C1.
• R4C4 = 4, R4C5 = 3, R4C6 = 1: These follow as the only digits left for the row that do not conflict with their columns or box; each is forced once R4C1 is placed.
• Row 5 (R5): Given: R5C1 = 5 and R5C2 = 3 and R5C6 = 4. Row needs {1,2,6}. Box B5 (bottom-left) and column constraints compel R5C3 = 2, R5C4 = 6, R5C5 = 1.
• R5C3 = 2: Column C3 already has 1 and 6 in other rows; within the box the only remaining feasible digit for R5C3 is 2.
• R5C4 = 6 and R5C5 = 1: After placing 2 in C3, the remaining digits for the row are 1 and 6 and columns C4/C5 constraints force 6 into C4 and 1 into C5.
• Row 6 (R6): Given: R6C1 = 1, R6C5 = 2, R6C6 = 3. Row needs {4,5,6}. Using the bottom-left and bottom-right boxes plus column eliminations yields R6C2 = 6, R6C3 = 4, R6C4 = 5.
• R6C2 = 6: Column C2 cannot accept 1,2,3,4,5 at R6C2 given existing placements, so 6 is the only candidate left.
• R6C3 = 4 and R6C4 = 5: These are the remaining digits for the row and align with column and box constraints, so they are placed accordingly.

How the chain of logic closes the puzzle

Each placement above was forced either as a naked single (only one digit fits the cell by row/column/box) or as the only remaining digit in a row/box/column once other cells were resolved. By proceeding in reading order and repeatedly applying elimination, every empty cell becomes a forced placement; no guesses are required. The grid resolves uniquely when all rows, columns, and 2×3 boxes contain digits 1–6 exactly once.

Compact recap (order of key placements)

1. Fill top-left box and complete Row 1: R1C1=4, R1C2=2, R1C3=3, R1C4=1.
2. Complete Row 2: R2C1=6, R2C2=1, R2C3=5, R2C6=2.
3. Complete Row 3: R3C1=3, R3C2=4, R3C5=6, R3C6=5.
4. Complete Row 4: R4C1=2, R4C4=4, R4C5=3, R4C6=1.
5. Complete Row 5: R5C3=2, R5C4=6, R5C5=1.
6. Complete Row 6: R6C2=6, R6C3=4, R6C4=5.

Final notes and keywords

This Climb Up walkthrough shows stepwise elimination, naked singles, and box/line interaction to finish the LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #126 logically and efficiently. Keywords for search visibility: "6x6 Sudoku solution", "LinkedIn Mini Sudoku", "Climb Up", "daily Sudoku walkthrough", "step-by-step Sudoku logic".

If you prefer a visual trace, paste these placements into your favourite Sudoku editor to watch the puzzle resolve in the exact order above.