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How to play Sudoku

Sudoku is a logic number puzzle. Fill the 9×9 grid so that every row, column and 3×3 box holds the numbers 1 to 9 exactly once. Play free at four levels, from easy to expert, or try the daily grid. A puzzle takes 5 to 30 minutes.

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Sudoku at a glance

Players
1
Grid
9×9, in nine 3×3 boxes
Goal
Fill every row, column and box with 1 to 9
Game length
About 5–30 minutes, by level

How to play Sudoku

  1. Pick a cell

    Tap an empty cell, then a number on the pad to place it.

  2. Use notes

    Turn notes on to pencil in the numbers a cell could hold.

  3. Fill the grid

    Each row, column and box needs 1 to 9 once. Fill every cell to solve it.

Complete Sudoku rules

The grid

The grid has 9 rows, 9 columns and nine 3×3 boxes. Some cells start with a number, and those can’t be changed.

The goal

Fill every empty cell with a number from 1 to 9 so that each row, each column and each box holds every number exactly once.

Notes and hints

Notes let you pencil in the numbers a cell could hold. A hint fills one cell that logic can already decide.

Solving

The puzzle is solved when every cell is filled and the grid matches its one solution. Your time and moves are your score.

Tips to win at Sudoku

  • Start with the rows, columns and boxes that are nearly full.
  • Look for a number that fits in only one cell of a box. It must go there.
  • Use notes on harder grids, and clear them as you place numbers.

Ways to play Sudoku

  • Easy and Medium

    Easy grids need only singles. Medium adds pairs and pointing.

  • Hard and Expert

    Hard adds hidden pairs and X-wings. Expert needs even more advanced techniques.

  • Daily Sudoku

    One Medium grid a day, the same for everyone, with a leaderboard.

Play by your house rules

  • LevelEasyMediumHardExpert

About Sudoku

Number-place puzzles first appeared in an American puzzle magazine in 1979. They took the name Sudoku in Japan in the 1980s, and became a worldwide craze in the mid-2000s, when newspapers everywhere began to print them.

Rules reviewed by the tavlo.gg game team · Updated October 10, 2026

Questions about Sudoku

Is every puzzle solvable?
Yes. Every grid has exactly one solution, and you can reach it by logic alone, with no guessing.
What do the levels mean?
Easy needs only the basics. Medium, Hard and Expert each need cleverer techniques, such as pairs, pointing and X-wings.
What if I make a mistake?
The game marks a number in red when it clashes with its row, column or box. Undo or erase it and carry on. There is no mistake limit.
Is Sudoku free to play?
Yes. Sudoku is free in your browser, with no download and no sign-up. You can start as a guest, and your progress saves on this device.
Can I play Sudoku on my phone?
Yes. Sudoku runs in any phone or tablet browser, with touch controls and nothing to install.
Is every puzzle solvable?
Yes. Every grid has exactly one solution, and you can reach it by logic alone, with no guessing.
What do the levels mean?
Easy needs only the basics. Medium, Hard and Expert each need cleverer techniques, such as pairs, pointing and X-wings.
What if I make a mistake?
The game marks a number in red when it clashes with its row, column or box. Undo or erase it and carry on. There is no mistake limit.
Is Sudoku free to play?
Yes. Sudoku is free in your browser, with no download and no sign-up. You can start as a guest, and your progress saves on this device.
Can I play Sudoku on my phone?
Yes. Sudoku runs in any phone or tablet browser, with touch controls and nothing to install.

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