Kropki · Hard

Hidden Pair in Kropki 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, and their other candidates can go.

On a Kropki board this works exactly as in Classic. The examples are from Kropki puzzles on this site.

Worked examples

A position from a real Kropki puzzle on this site. Step through it: 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 5, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.

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

Where it fits

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

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

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

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

The worked examples, every step

Two digits, two cells, in a column

Hard Kropki puzzle · Hidden Pair

  1. In column 5, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.
  2. In column 5, {5, 9} can only go in R1C5, R9C5. Those cells must hold those digits, so their other candidates can go.
  3. Keep only {5, 9} in R1C5, R9C5.
  4. Done: 1 and 8 are eliminated from R1C5; 1, 2 and 4 are eliminated from R9C5.

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