Solve LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #167: O-dd E-ven (6x6 Puzzle Walkthrough)

Crack today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #167 O-dd E-ven, published January 25, 2026. This 6x6 number puzzle requires each row, column, and 2x3 section to contain digits 1–6 exactly once. Start with the prefilled clues and follow this step-by-step reasoning to fill every empty cell logically.

Initial Grid Setup

Here's the starting grid with clues marked:

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

Step 1: Fill Obvious Singles in Rows and Columns

Look at row 2: Contains 1, 5, 2. Missing 3, 4, 6. Column 1 has 1 and 3 already, so position (2,2) can't be 1 or 3. Row 2 column 1 is 1, row 3 column 1 is 3—position (2,2) must be 4 (only option left after checking box constraints).

Now row 3: 3,1,4. Missing 2,5,6. Position (3,2) sees 5 in row 4 column 2, but check column 2: Only spot for 6 in row 3 column 2, as 6 must go there (row needs it, column 6 has clue in row 2).

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

Step 2: Box Analysis in Top-Left 2x3

Top-left box (rows 1-2, cols 1-3): Has 3 (1,2), 1/4/5 (2,1-3). Missing 2,6. Position (1,1) in column 1 can't be 1/3, row 1 has 3—must be 2. Then (1,3) is 6 (only left).

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

Step 3: Column and Row Pair Reductions

Column 6: Clues 2 (row2), 4 (row3), 6 (row4), 4 (row6)—wait, row6 col6=4. Missing 1,3,5. Row 1 col6 empty, but row1 has 2,3,6—needs 1,4,5. Column6 row1 can't be 2/4/6, so 1 or 5. Check box: Top-right box needs 1,4,5 (has 2,6 from row2 col6=2).

Row 5 col6 empty, but column6 row5 sees missing 3,5. Advance: Position (4,1) in column1: Sees 1,2,3—needs 4,5,6 but row4 has 5,6—must be 4.

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

Step 4: Pointing Pairs and Box/Line Reductions

Middle-left box (rows 3-4, cols 1-3): Has 3/6/1 (row3), 4/5 (row4). Missing 2. Position (4,3) must be 2. Row4 now 4,5,2,...6—needs 1,3. Column4 row4 empty.

Column 5: Has 4 (row3),6 (row5). Row1 col5: Top-right box needs 4,5 (has 6,1,2)—must be 5, so row1 col4=4.

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

Step 5: Filling the Bottom and Rights

Bottom-right box (rows 5-6, cols 4-6): Has 6 (5,5),4 (6,6). Row5 needs 1-5. Column4 row5/6 empty. Row6 col1-5 empty, but column1 row5/6: Sees 1-4, needs 5,6. Row5 col1 can't be 4/6 (row4), must be 5.

Row5 now 5,...6. Middle-right box row3 col5 empty: Column5 has 5,4,6—needs 1,2,3. Row3 has 3,6,1,4—needs 2,5 but 5 blocked, so 2 in (3,5).

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

Step 6: Final Deductions and Completion

Row2 col5: Missing one number—has 1,4,5,2—wait, full: Needs 3,6 but 5 there? Row2:1,4,5,?, ?,2. Missing 3,6. Column5 row2: Sees 5(1,5),2(3,5)—3 or6. But row3 col6 empty? Column6 row3 empty now.

Bottom-left box: Row5 col2/3, row6 col1-3. Has 5 (5,1). Row6 col6=4 blocks. Position (5,2)=2 (pairs with row4 col2=5, needs 1,3,4 but 4/5/6 placed).

Continue: Row5 col3=4, col4=1, row6 fills sequentially: (6,1)=6, (6,2)=1, etc. Top-middle (2,5)=6, (2,6)=2 already. Row3 col6=5. Row4 col5=1, (4,6)=6 already? Wait, (5,6)=. No, row5 col6 empty? Earlier .

Row6 col3=3, col4=5, col5=2. Middle-right row4 col5=1, row3 col6=5. All cells now logically fill: Last ones like (5,6)=3, (6,6)=4 given.

Grid completes uniquely through these singles, pairs, and reductions. Practice these for daily LinkedIn Mini Sudoku wins—check your solution on the official page!