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Puzzle guides
Clear, illustrated guides to the puzzles on this site. Each one starts with the short answer and then walks through the techniques with diagrams and worked examples.
How to Solve Sudoku: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Learn how to solve sudoku step by step: the rules, scanning, naked and hidden singles, pencil marks and a simple routine that finishes easy and medium puzzles.
Sudoku Techniques: Singles, Pairs, Pointing and X-Wing Explained
Sudoku solving techniques explained with diagrams: naked and hidden singles, pointing and claiming, naked and hidden pairs, and the X-Wing pattern.
How to Solve Nonograms (Picross): Rules and Strategies
How to solve nonograms (Picross, Griddlers): what the numbers mean, the overlap method, edges, crossing out empty cells and a step-by-step routine.
How to Solve Cryptograms: Tips for Cracking Letter-Swap Ciphers
How to solve cryptogram puzzles: start with one-letter words, common short words, apostrophes and repeated patterns, then use letter frequency to finish.
X-Wing Sudoku Technique: How to Spot It and Why It Works
The X-Wing sudoku technique step by step: what the pattern looks like, why it works, how to find it with pencil marks, and the Swordfish that comes next.
How to Solve Logic Grid Puzzles: A Worked Example
How to solve logic grid puzzles step by step: how the grid works, a fully worked example, and the techniques that crack harder cases, including ours.
How to Solve Mini Crosswords: Tips for a Faster Finish
How to solve mini crosswords quickly: where to start, how crossings help, what clue styles mean, and the short answers that show up again and again.