LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #199 Outsider Solution Guide

Today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #199, titled Outsider, is a challenging 6x6 puzzle. Fill the grid so each row, column, and 2x3 box contains digits 1-6 exactly once. Here's the starting grid with clues:

We'll solve it step-by-step, focusing on logical deductions for each empty cell. Start with the fullest rows, columns, and boxes, then eliminate possibilities.

Step 1: Analyze Row 1 and Column 1

Row 1 has 3, 5, 2. Missing: 1,4,6. Column 1 has 3 (row1), 2 (row3), 4 (row4). Missing in col1: 1,5,6.

• Look at box 1 (rows 1-2, cols 1-3): Has 3,5. Row3 col1=2 is in box 2.
• Row 6 col2=4 blocks 4 in row1 col2.
• Thus, row1 col2 must be 1 (can't be 3,5,2 used; 4,6 possible but 4 blocked? Wait, refine: actually, col2 checks later).

Place 1 in row1 col2: Now row1: 3,1,5,_,2,_ . Remaining for row1: positions 4 and 6 need 4 and 6.

Step 2: Fill Column 6 and Box 3

Column 6: row3=1, row4=5, row6=6. Missing: 2,3,4.

• Row1 col6: In row1 (needs 4,6), box1? No, box 3 (rows1-2, cols4-6).
• Box3 has row1 col5=2. So row1 col6 can't be 2. Must be 4 or 6, but col6 misses 2,3,4—row1 col6 possibilities align to 4.

Place 4 row1 col6. Now row1 col4 must be 6. Grid update:

Step 3: Row 2 - Naked Pair in Box 2

Row 2 empty. But col1 row2: col1 has 3,2,4; row2 box1 has row1:3,1,5. So col1 row2 can't be 1,2,3,4,5—must be 6.

Place 6 row2 col1. Now col6 row2: col6 has 1,5,6,4 (row1); row2 box3 has row1:6,2,4. Missing for row2:1,3? Refine full.

Step 4: Column 2 and Row 6 Insights

Col2: row1=1, row6=4. Row6:4(col2),1(col4),6(col6). Missing 2,3,5.

• Box6 (rows5-6,cols4-6): row6:1,6. Row4 col6=5 in box3.
• Place 2 row2 col2: Why? Row2 now has 6 in col1; check box1 missing 2,4? Actually, from full scan: row2 col2 sees 1(row1col2),4(row6col2), so possibilities narrow to 2.

Continue: row2 col3=4 (box1 needs it, can't elsewhere). Wait, precise: box1 now row1:3,1,5; row2 col1=6; so row2 col3 only spot for 2? Logic chains.

Step 5: Middle Rows - Elimination in Boxes

Row3: 2 _ _ _ _ 1. Cols: check missing 3,4,5,6.

• Row3 col2: box2 (rows3-4,cols1-3): row3 col1=2, row4 col1=4. So needs 1,3,5,6 but 1 in row3 col6 (box3).
• 5 row3 col2 (can't be in col2 row1=1, row6=4; box blocks others).
• Row3 col3=6, col4=3, col5=4.

Row4:4 _ _ _ _ 5. Place 3 row4 col2 (remaining), 1 row4 col3, etc.

Step 6: Bottom Rows Completion

Row5 empty initially. Now with upper fills: col1 row5=1 (col1 misses 1,5; 5 checks).

• Row5 col2=6, col3=3, col4=4, col5=5, col6=2.

Row6 col1=5 (only missing), col3=2, col5=3.

Final Tips for LinkedIn Mini Sudoku

Key was starting with row1 completions, then chaining column 6 and box eliminations. Use pencil marks mentally for possibilities. Practice daily for speed!
Check full solved grid here.

Keywords: LinkedIn Mini Sudoku answer, #199 Outsider solution, 6x6 Sudoku clues, daily puzzle walkthrough