Thermo · Hard

Hidden Pair in Thermo 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 Thermo board this works exactly as in Classic. The examples are from Thermo puzzles on this site.

Worked examples

A position from a real Thermo 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 row

Hard puzzle · Hidden Pair

In row 3, 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 Thermo puzzles are the first to need it.

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

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

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

The worked examples, every step

Two digits, two cells, in a row

Hard Thermo puzzle · Hidden Pair

  1. In row 3, look for two digits that fit in only two cells.
  2. In row 3, {6, 8} can only go in R3C1, R3C6. Those cells must hold those digits, so their other candidates can go.
  3. Keep only {6, 8} in R3C1, R3C6.
  4. Done: 5 and 7 are eliminated from R3C1; 7 is eliminated from R3C6.

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