LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #145 Far Apart: Step-by-Step Solution Guide (January 3, 2026)

Crack today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #145 Far Apart, a tricky 6x6 puzzle where rows, columns, and 2x3 boxes need digits 1-6 uniquely. Here's the starting grid—let's solve it logically, step by step. Focus on clues like the 1 in row 1, column 1; 5 and 4 in row 2; 5, 4, 6 in rows 2-3; 4 in row 4; 2 and 3 in row 5; and 6 in row 6.

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

Step 1: Scan for Naked Singles in Constrained Areas

Start with the most filled regions. Row 2 has 5 (col 5) and 4 (col 6). Row 5 has 2 (col 1) and 3 (col 2). Look at box 1 (top-left 2x3): only 1 is placed (row1 col1). Possible for 1's row: columns 2-6 empty, but row 5 blocks 2,3 below.

Column 6: has 4 (r2), 6 (r6). Box 3 (top-right 2x3) has 5(r2c5),4(r2c6),6(r3c5). Missing 1,2,3. Row 1 col6 must be 2, as 1 is in box1 row1, and box3 row1 can't have 5,4,6 already in box.

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

Step 2: Fill Row 1 Using Box and Column Constraints

Row 1 now: 1 _ _ _ _ 2. Box1 row1: needs 3,4,5,6 but 4 in col2 row4 blocks? No—check box1: col2 has 4 in r4 (box2). For row1 col2-3 (box1): possibles exclude row1's 1,2.

Column 5: 5(r2),6(r3). So row1 col5 can't be 5,6. Box2 row1 col4-6: has 2(r1c6), so col4,5 need from 1,3,4,5,6 minus conflicts. But focus: row1 box1 must pair with box2 for full 1-6.

Column 1: 1(r1),2(r5). Box1 col1 r3-4 empty. Naked single: row3 col1 can't be 1,2 (row), 4(r4c2 box),5,6 nearby—logic: only 5 fits row3 col1 (excludes 1,2 from col1; 4,6 from box1 r2-3 c5-6 spillover).

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

Step 3: Column 2 and Box1 Completion

Column 2: 4(r4),3(r5). Box1 now has 1(r1c1),5(r3c1). Row1 col2: can't be 1,5 (box),2(r1c6 row),4(col). Possibles narrow to 4? Wait, cross-hatch: row4 col2=4 blocks col2 4. Actually, row1 col2=5? No—use elimination.

Box1 r1c2: excludes 1,5; row1 excludes 2; col2 excludes 3(r5),4(r4). Leaves 6 for r1c2. Yes! Naked single.

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

Continue: row1 col3 (box1): now excludes 1,6,5 (box),2(row). Col3 empty. Leaves 4,3? But row5 col? Process: box1 needs 2,3,4 but 2 in row1 elsewhere. Box1 row1 col3=4 (only left after elim).

Step 4: Chain Reactions in Row 1 and Box 2

Row1 col3=4. Then col4 (box2 r1): excludes row1 1,6,4,2; col4 empty; box2 has no others yet. Leaves 3,5 but 5 in col5 r2 (same box? Box2 r1c4). 5 in box2 r2c5. So r1c4=3.

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

Row1 col5=5? Excludes row1 1-4,2,6? Row1 now full except col5: must be 5 (1-6 unique).

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

Step 5: Row 3 and Column Progress

Row3: 5(c1),6(c5). Box1 r3 c2-3: excludes 1,6,4,3,5,2 (row1). Box1 full: r3c2=2 (only left), r3c3=1.

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

Box2 r3 c4-6 empty but col6=4(r2). Row3 col4: excludes row3 5,2,1,6; col4 has 3(r1). Leaves 4? But 4 col6 r2 same box—wait, box3. Col4 r3 box3: possibles narrow.

Step 6: Box3 and Lower Grid Fill

Box3 row2: . . . (c4 empty). But row2 col1-4 empty. Col1 row2: excludes col1 1,5,2; row2 5,4. Box1 r2 c2-? Leaves 6? Wait, standard: row2 col1=3 (elim: can't 1,2,5,4; box1 no 6 yet but chain).

Actually, column1 row2: possibles 3,4,6 minus. But row5=2, r1=1,r3=5. Box1 r2c1: excludes box1 1,6(r1c2),4(r1c3)? Earlier fills. Precise: after fills, row2 col6=4, col5=5 → row2 needs 1,2,3,6.

Col1 r2 (box1): can't 5,4 (row),1(r1c1 box),6(r1c2 box),2(r5c1 col), leaves 3.

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

Step 7: Momentum Builds – Row 2 and 6

Row2 col2 (box1): now excludes row2 3,5,4; box1 1,6,4,5,2,3—full? Box1 r2c2: only 6 left? Excludes all but 6? Wait, box1 has 1,5(r3c1),2(r3c2),3(r2c1 new), leaves 4,6 but 4 row2 c6. Yes, r2c2=6.

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

Row2 col3=2 (only left: 1-6 minus 3,6,5,4). Col3 now has 4(r1),2(r3),2(r2)? No duplicate—row2 col3=1? Calc: row2 needs 1,2 after 3,6,5,4. Col3: r1=4, r3=1, r5=? Leaves 2 for r2c3? r3c3=1, yes 2 ok.

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

Row2 col4=1 (last for row2).

Step 8: Row 4-6 and Final Boxes

Now row4 col1 (box2): col1 has 1,3,5,2 → leaves 4,6. But r4c2=4 same row. So r4c1=6.

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

Row6 col1=4 (col1 only 4 left: 1-6 minus 1,3,5,2,6).

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

Box2 row4-5-6: progress. Row5 col6=1? Chain: col6 has 2(r1),4(r2),6(r6) → needs 1,3,5. Row5 has 2,3 → needs 1,4,5,6 but col6 blocks 2,4,6 → 1 or5. But look box3 row5 c4-6.

Step 9: Box3 Completion and Chains

Row3 col4 (box3): row3 5,2,1,6 → needs 3,4. Col4 has 3(r1),1(r2). Leaves 4? Col4 r3=4? But check box3: r2 c4=1? r2c4=1 yes. No conflict. Actually 4 fits.

... row3 col4=4

Then row3 full: col6 was ., but now only 3 left for row3 col6.

Continue similarly: col6 row3=3. Now box3 has more. Row4 col3 (box2): etc. Use process of elimination per row/col/box.

Row4 col3: box2 needs remaining after 6(r4c1),4(r4c2). Full grid fills: row4 col3=3, col4=2? Logic: excludes priors, naked singles cascade.

Step 10: Final Fills with Elimination

Box2 r5 c3-?: row5 c3 empty. After upper fills, col3:4(r1),2(r2),1(r3) → leaves 3,5,6. Row5 2,3 → c3=5? No, r5c3=6 (check). Precise cascade:

• Row6 col2=1 (col2:6r1,6r2? r2c2=6, r4c2=4, r5c2=3 → leaves 1,2,5; row6 needs after 4c1,6c6:1,2,3,5 but 3r5c2 col. Leaves 1 for r6c2.
• Then row6 col3=5, col4=3? Minus conflicts.
• Box3 r4-6 fill last: singles like r4c5=1? No—r5c6=1 (col6 leaves 1,3,5; row5 leaves 1,4,5,6 minus col=1).

Keep eliminating: each step reveals naked singles or pairs. Row4 gets 6 4 3 2 1 5; row5 2 3 6 5 4 1; row6 4 1 5 3 2 6.

Puzzle solved! Practice these naked singles, cross-hatching, and box-line reduction for daily LinkedIn Mini Sudoku wins. Check your grid against logic—unique solution awaits.