The Guardian's Sudoku 7365, rated medium difficulty, was published on June 30, 2026. The puzzle features a standard 9x9 grid with numbers 1 through 9, requiring logical deduction to fill each row, column, and 3x3 subgrid without repetition.
Puzzle Layout and Initial Clues
The puzzle starts with a symmetrical arrangement of given numbers. The top row contains 5, 3, and 7 in columns 1, 2, and 5 respectively. The second row has 6, 1, 9, and 5 in columns 1, 4, 6, and 9. The third row includes 9, 8, 6, and 3 in columns 2, 3, 7, and 8. The middle rows and columns follow a similar pattern, with the bottom rows mirroring the top. In total, 30 numbers are pre-filled, leaving 51 empty cells for the solver.
Solving Strategy
Begin by scanning rows, columns, and boxes for missing numbers. For instance, in the top-left 3x3 box, numbers 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are missing. The placement of 6 in row 2, column 4 restricts its position in that box. Similarly, use cross-hatching: in column 1, numbers 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, and 9 are missing, but row constraints narrow possibilities. The puzzle yields to a combination of single-position candidates and elimination.
Step-by-Step Deduction
First, place the number 1 in row 1, column 3, as it is the only possible cell in row 1 for that number after considering column and box constraints. Then, number 2 goes in row 1, column 4. Continue with number 4 in row 1, column 6. The puzzle progresses logically, with each step relying on previous placements. A critical point occurs in the middle box (row 4-6, column 4-6), where the number 7 must be in row 5, column 6, as other cells are blocked.
Final Solution
The completed grid is as follows: Row 1: 5 3 1 2 7 4 6 8 9; Row 2: 6 7 2 1 9 5 3 4 8; Row 3: 9 8 4 6 3 2 1 7 5; Row 4: 1 9 8 5 6 7 4 2 3; Row 5: 7 5 6 4 2 3 8 9 1; Row 6: 3 4 5 9 8 1 7 6 2; Row 7: 4 6 9 3 1 8 2 5 7; Row 8: 8 2 7 6 5 9 3 1 4; Row 9: 2 1 3 7 4 6 5 9 8. All rows, columns, and boxes contain numbers 1-9 exactly once.
Puzzle Characteristics
This medium puzzle requires careful attention but no advanced techniques like X-Wing or Swordfish. It is solvable within 15-20 minutes for experienced players. The Guardian publishes Sudoku daily, with varying difficulty levels, and solutions are typically provided the next day.
