Jigsaw · Hard

Hidden Pair in Jigsaw Sudoku

Two digits that fit in only two cells of a house. Every other candidate in those cells is eliminated.

The idea

When two digits can go only in the same two cells of a house, those cells must hold them. Their other candidates can go.

Scan the regions: their shapes make hidden pairs easy to miss.

Worked examples

2 positions from real Jigsaw puzzles on this site, the familiar case first. Step through each one: the board lights what each step talks about, and the arrows show what rules what out.

Two digits, two cells, in a column

Hard puzzle · Hidden Pair

In column 1, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.

Step 1 of 4Step 2 of 4Step 3 of 4Step 4 of 4

Two digits, two cells, in a region

Hard puzzle · Hidden Pair

Look through the lit region for two digits with only two places.

Step 1 of 5Step 2 of 5Step 3 of 5Step 4 of 5Step 5 of 5

Where it fits

HardHidden Pair is a Hard technique: Hard Jigsaw puzzles are the first to need it.

The Classic Hidden Pair lesson teaches it on a plain 9×9 board. The Jigsaw overview explains the rule and the levels.

Hidden Pair in the other styles: Sudoku X, Thermo, Windoku, Arrow, Kropki.

Try it on a Hard Jigsaw puzzle. Next Step points it out when it is the move.

The worked examples, every step

Two digits, two cells, in a column

Hard Jigsaw puzzle · Hidden Pair

  1. In column 1, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.
  2. In column 1, {7, 9} can only go in R3C1, R9C1. Those cells must hold those digits, so their other candidates can go.
  3. Keep only {7, 9} in R3C1, R9C1.
  4. Done: 2 is eliminated from R3C1; 1 and 6 are eliminated from R9C1.

Two digits, two cells, in a region

Hard Jigsaw puzzle · Hidden Pair

  1. Look through the lit region for two digits with only two places.
  2. In region 6, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.
  3. In region 6, {6, 7} can only go in R5C7, R5C9. Those cells must hold those digits, so their other candidates can go.
  4. Keep only {6, 7} in R5C7, R5C9.
  5. Done: 4, 9 are eliminated from R5C7, R5C9.

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