Discover 8 proven tips to solve Sudoku faster using scanning, elimination, candidate notes, and advanced strategies to boost your speed.
Sudoku may look simple at first glance, but it requires strong observation, logical reasoning, and patience. If you want to improve your solving speed, here are effective techniques that can help you get faster in a short amount of time.
Master the basic Sudoku rules – Simple but essential
Before diving into advanced techniques, make sure you fully understand the rules:
- Each row must contain the numbers 1–9
- Each column must contain the numbers 1–9
- Each 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1–9
Having a solid grasp of these basics helps you avoid mistakes and reduces the time spent double-checking your work.
Start with the easy cells – Use the “Scanning” technique
One of the best ways to speed up your Sudoku solving is by scanning the entire board:
- Scan each row to identify missing numbers
- Scan each column
- Scan each 3×3 box
Scanning helps you fill in many easy cells early on and sets the foundation for the next steps.
Use “Candidate notes” to narrow down options
When you’re unsure about a number, write down all possible candidates for that cell.
A few tips:
- Limit your notes to 3–4 candidates to keep the board clean
- Erase candidates as soon as a number is confirmed
This technique speeds up your reasoning process and helps prevent errors.
Apply the elimination strategy
If a number already appears in a row, column, or box, eliminate it from the remaining cells in that section.
This method is especially effective for harder Sudoku puzzles, helping you narrow down possibilities quickly.
Focus on completing the 3×3 boxes first
Many players only pay attention to rows or columns and overlook the importance of the 3×3 boxes.
The more complete a box becomes:
- The easier it is to deduce the remaining numbers
- The fewer mistakes you’re likely to make
Prioritize solving the easier boxes first to boost your overall speed.
Learn advanced techniques – A must for faster solving
If you want to reach speed-solving levels, practice these techniques:
- Hidden Single / Naked Single
- Pairs / Triples (candidate pairs or triples)
- X-Wing, Swordfish (useful for difficult puzzles)
- Pointing / Claiming
You don’t need to master all of them at once—just 2–3 basic advanced techniques can noticeably improve your speed.
Stay relaxed – Speed comes from focus
Sudoku requires concentration, so avoid solving puzzles when you’re:
- Tired
- Impatient
- Distracted
A calm and clear mind can help you reduce solving time by 20–30%.
Practice daily – The key to becoming faster
Playing Sudoku regularly helps you:
- Recognize patterns more quickly
- Automate your reasoning steps
- Improve your scanning speed
Start from easy puzzles, move to medium, then hard. After 1–2 weeks, you’ll clearly notice your improvement.
To effectively apply these speed-boosting Sudoku techniques, remember to:
- Scan the board first
- Use accurate candidate notes
- Eliminate possibilities intelligently
- Learn a few advanced strategies
- Practice consistently
After just 1–2 weeks, your solving speed will improve significantly.
Try these tips today and feel your skills grow each day with Online Sudoku Games!
