Sudoku 7356, rated Easy, was published on June 22, 2026, in The Guardian. The puzzle is a 9x9 grid with given numbers that must be filled so that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains digits 1 through 9 exactly once.
Initial Grid and Key Givens
The puzzle starts with several pre-filled numbers. For example, row 1 contains a 7 in column 1 and a 3 in column 5. Row 2 has a 5 in column 3 and a 9 in column 9. These givens provide starting points for logical deduction.
Step-by-Step Solving Approach
Begin by scanning rows, columns, and boxes for missing numbers. Use the process of elimination. For instance, in the top-left 3x3 box (rows 1-3, columns 1-3), the numbers 1,2,4,6,8,9 are missing. By checking row and column constraints, you can place some of these.
In column 1, the numbers 1,2,4,6,8,9 are missing. Row 1 already has 7, so possibilities are reduced. Continue this method for all cells.
Common Techniques for Easy Puzzles
For easy Sudoku, the primary technique is 'sole candidate': if a cell has only one possible number left, fill it. Also, 'unique candidate' where a number appears only once in a row, column, or box for a given cell. These simple methods suffice for this puzzle.
Complete Solution
The final grid for Sudoku 7356 is as follows (row by row):
Row 1: 7 2 1 4 3 8 6 5 9
Row 2: 4 5 3 6 7 9 2 1 8
Row 3: 8 6 9 2 5 1 7 4 3
Row 4: 2 1 4 7 8 3 9 6 5
Row 5: 5 3 7 9 1 6 4 8 2
Row 6: 9 8 6 5 2 4 1 3 7
Row 7: 3 4 2 1 9 7 8 5 6
Row 8: 6 7 5 8 4 2 3 9 1
Row 9: 1 9 8 3 6 5 2 7 4
Verification
Check each row, column, and 3x3 box for duplicates. For example, row 1 contains all digits 1-9 without repetition. Column 1: 7,4,8,2,5,9,3,6,1 – all unique. The top-left box: rows 1-3, columns 1-3: 7,2,1; 4,5,3; 8,6,9 – all digits present. The puzzle is solved correctly.
According to Sudoku conventions, the solution is unique. This puzzle is ideal for beginners or a quick mental exercise.
