Welcome to Sudoku! If you're completely new to this amazing puzzle, you're in the right place. This guide will teach you everything you need to start playing, with zero prior knowledge required. By the end, you'll be confidently solving your first Sudoku puzzles!
Our Beginner mode features Master Sudo, your friendly guide who teaches you step-by-step. Perfect for your first puzzles!
Try Beginner Mode →Sudoku is a number puzzle played on a 9×9 grid. Your goal is to fill in all the empty squares with numbers 1-9, following three simple rules. That's it! No math required, no tricks—just logic and pattern recognition.
You don't need to be good at math! Despite using numbers, Sudoku requires zero mathematical ability. The numbers could be replaced with letters, colors, or symbols. They're just convenient markers. If you can count to 9, you can play Sudoku!
Every Sudoku puzzle follows these three rules. Master these, and you understand the entire game:
That's all! Every number you place must follow all three rules simultaneously.
The Sudoku grid has three important parts:
Your puzzle starts with some numbers already filled in (called "givens"). These are locked and can't be changed. Your job is to fill the empty cells.
The easiest way to start is by scanning. Here's how:
If a row has 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and one empty cell, that cell must be 9! That's the only number missing from 1-9.
Find rows, columns, or boxes that already have 6-8 numbers. These are the easiest to complete because only 1-3 numbers are missing.
Pick a number (start with 1) and scan the entire grid looking for where 1 can go. Then do the same for 2, 3, etc.
Before placing a number, verify:
For each empty cell, ask: "Which numbers CAN'T go here?" The answer is often simpler than asking which numbers CAN go there.
Each number you place makes the next number easier to find. The puzzle gets simpler as you progress!
No! Every proper Sudoku puzzle can be solved using only logic. If you find yourself guessing, there's a logical step you haven't found yet. Our Beginner mode with Master Sudo will show you the logical steps.
No problem! Our online game has an Undo button. Mistakes are part of learning. When you validate your puzzle, it will show you errors to learn from.
Your first puzzles might take 20-30 minutes, and that's perfectly normal! As you practice, you'll naturally get faster. Don't worry about time—focus on understanding the logic.
For your first few puzzles, try without notes to focus on the basic logic. Once comfortable, notes mode becomes very helpful! Our game has built-in notes—click the pencil icon.
Our online Sudoku has special features perfect for learning:
Start with Beginner mode. Master Sudo will explain every move. Play 2-3 puzzles to understand the basics.
Move to Easy difficulty. Try solving without hints. Use the Validate button to check progress.
Solve 2-3 Easy puzzles daily. Focus on recognizing patterns faster.
You're no longer a complete beginner! Try timing yourself and see how far you've come.
You're ready to move from Easy to Hard when:
Begin with our guided Beginner mode—Master Sudo will teach you everything!
Start Learning Now →Once you're comfortable with the basics:
Everyone who's now an expert solver was once exactly where you are—a complete beginner staring at a confusing grid. The difference is they practiced and learned. You can too!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Sudoku. Happy puzzling! 🧩
Last Updated: January 2025 | Try Solitaire Home | Play Sudoku