LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #182 (Squared) - February 9, 2026: Step-by-Step Solving Guide

Crack today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #182 called Squared, a tricky 6x6 number puzzle published on February 9, 2026. This guide walks you through every move using logic from rows, columns, and 2x3 boxes to fill digits 1-6 uniquely. Let's dive in!

The Starting Grid

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

Rows 2-6 have strong clues. We'll fill empties step by step, starting with easy wins.

Step 1: Complete Row 6 (Bottom Row)

Row 6 shows 2,1,6,5,4,? Missing: 3. Place 3 in column 6, row 6.

Row 6: 2 1 6 5 4 3

Step 2: Fill Column 6 Using New Clue

Column 6 now: row2=empty, row3=empty, row4=empty, row5=empty, row6=3. Known elsewhere: row1 empty but we'll check boxes.

Row 2 column 6: Only spot left in row 2 (has 1-5), so 6.

Row 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Step 3: Top-Left 2x3 Box and Row 1

Top-left box (rows1-2, cols1-3): Row2 has 1,2,3. Needs 4,5,6. Row1 cols1-3 empty.

Column 1: Has 1(r2),3(r3),5(r4),4(r5),2(r6). Row1 col1: only 6 fits.

Row1 Col1: 6

Step 4: Continue Row 1 and Box Logic

Row1 now: 6,?,?,?,?... Column2 row1: Can't be 1,2,4,5 (from col2: r2=2,r5=? but check row). Actually, row1 needs 1-5 left. But col2 has r6=1,r2=2,r3=empty,r4=empty,r5=empty. Better: top-left box needs 4,5 (since 6 placed, 1,2,3 in r2).

Column2: Known r2=2,r6=1. Row1 col2: Look at possibilities. Pairs in box: spots row1 col2, row1 col3, row2 col? Wait, standard: row1 col2 must be 5 (can't be 1-4 elsewhere fitting).

Row1: 6 5 ? ? ? ?

Step 5: Row1 Col3 and Propagation

Top-left box: row1 col3 only 4 left.

Row1: 6 5 4 ? ? ?

Now column3: r1=4,r2=3,r6=6. Continue filling.

Step 6: Middle-Left Box (Rows3-4, Cols1-3)

Known: r3 col1=3, r4 col1=5. Empty: r3 col2,3; r4 col2,3.

Row3 needs 1,2,4,5 (has 3,6). Column logic: r3 col2 only 4 (check col2: r1=5,r2=2,r6=1; no 4 yet).

Row3: 3 4 ? ? 6 ?

Step 7: Chain Reaction in Row3

Row3 col3: Now only 1 fits (2,5 left but col3 r1=4,r2=3,r6=6; row needs 2,5).

Row3: 3 4 1 ? 6 ?

Step 8: Row4 and Box Fills

Middle-left box: Has 3,4,1,5. Needs 2,6. r4 col2: 6 (only spot).

Row4: 5 6 ? ? 1 ?

r4 col3: 2.

Row4: 5 6 2 ? 1 ?

Step 9: Bottom-Left Box (Rows5-6, Cols1-3)

Has r5 col1=4; r6=2,1,6. Needs 3,5. r5 col2: 3, col3: 5.

Row5: 4 3 5 ? 2 ?

Step 10: Right Side Columns

Column5: All rows known except r1,r3. r2=5,r4=1,r5=2,r6=4. Missing 3,6.

But row1 col5: From row1 progress.

Row1 so far 6,5,4. Col4 empty, col5, col6.

Column4: r3 empty? Wait, row3 col4 empty still.

Step 11: Upper-Middle Box (Rows1-2 Cols4-6)

Row2:4,5,6. Needs 1,2,3. Row1 col4: only 1 fits there (check col4 empty below).

Row1: 6 5 4 1 ? ?

Row1 col5: 3.

Row1: 6 5 4 1 3 ?

Row1 col6: 2.

Row1: 6 5 4 1 3 2

Step 12: Final Fills

Now row3 col4: Row3 has 3,4,1,?,6,?. Needs 2,5. Col4: r1=1,r2=4,r6=5? r6 col4=5. So col4 r3: 2.

Row3: 3 4 1 2 6 ?

Row3 col6: 5.

Row3: 3 4 1 2 6 5

Step 13: Row4 Col4 and Col6

Row4:5,6,2,?,1,?. Needs 3,4. Col4 r4: 3 (col4 has r1=1,r2=4,r3=2,r6=5).

Row4: 5 6 2 3 1 ?

Row4 col6: 4.

Row4: 5 6 2 3 1 4

Step 14: Row5 Completion

Row5:4,3,5,?,2,?. Needs 1,6. Col4 r5: 6 (col4 full check: missing was 3,6 but 3 in r4).

Row5: 4 3 5 6 2 ?

Row5 col6: 1.

Row5: 4 3 5 6 2 1

Puzzle complete! Every row, column, and 2x3 box has 1-6 uniquely. Practice these naked singles, missing numbers, and box-line reductions for faster solves.

Check the official solution page to verify. Tomorrow's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku awaits!