Mini Sudoku Level 3

Mini Sudoku Level 3 is part of our exclusive Mini Sudoku level track. Mini Sudoku is LinkedIn's compact sudoku variant: fill a 6×6 grid so every row, column, and irregular region contains the digits 1 through 6 exactly once. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

This 6×6 Mini Sudoku starts with 18 given digits and fills 18 remaining cells. Layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each.

R1C4=6, R2C2=4, R4C1=2, R3C3=1, R3C4=2, R2C4=5, R2C6=2, R4C2=6, R4C4=1, R4C5=5, R5C4=4, R5C6=5, R5C2=1, R5C5=2, R5C3=3, R6C2=5, R6C3=2, R6C5=1

1. Cell 1Opening scanNaked single

   R1C4 = 6

   Reasoning

   Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1; 3 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 1 and region 2; 5 is already in row 1.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R1C4 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

2. Cell 2Row cross-checkNaked single

   R2C2 = 4

   Reasoning

   Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in region 1; 6 is already in row 2 and region 1.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R2C2 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

3. Cell 3Column testNaked single

   R4C1 = 2

   Reasoning

   Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 1; 3 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 5 is already in column 1 and region 3; 6 is already in column 1.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R4C1 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

4. Cell 4Region pinNaked single

   R3C3 = 1

   Reasoning

   Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 3.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R3C3 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

5. Cell 5Naked readNaked single

   R3C4 = 2

   Reasoning

   Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R3C4 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

6. Cell 6Hidden readNaked single

   R2C4 = 5

   Reasoning

   Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R2C4 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

7. Cell 7Mid-gridNaked single

   R2C6 = 2

   Reasoning

   Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 5 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R2C6 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

8. Cell 8Unit verifyNaked single

   R4C2 = 6

   Reasoning

   Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in region 3; 2 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 5 is already in region 3.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R4C2 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

9. Cell 9Chain linkNaked single

   R4C4 = 1

   Reasoning

   Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and region 4; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4.

   Solving note

   Naked single at R4C4 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

10. Cell 10PropagationNaked single

    R4C5 = 5

    Reasoning

    Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 2 is already in row 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R4C5 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

11. Cell 11Second waveNaked single

    R5C4 = 4

    Reasoning

    Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 4; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R5C4 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

12. Cell 12Tight regionNaked single

    R5C6 = 5

    Reasoning

    Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 6; 2 is already in column 6; 3 is already in column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R5C6 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

13. Cell 13EliminationNaked single

    R5C2 = 1

    Reasoning

    Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in column 2; 4 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in row 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R5C2 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

14. Cell 14Lock digitNaked single

    R5C5 = 2

    Reasoning

    Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 5; 3 is already in column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R5C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

15. Cell 15Row balanceNaked single

    R5C3 = 3

    Reasoning

    Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 2 is already in row 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in row 5 and column 3; 6 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R5C3 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

16. Cell 16Column balanceNaked single

    R6C2 = 5

    Reasoning

    Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 5; 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R6C2 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

17. Cell 17Region balanceNaked single

    R6C3 = 2

    Reasoning

    Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R6C3 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

18. Cell 18Late scanNaked single

    R6C5 = 1

    Reasoning

    Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6.

    Solving note

    Naked single at R6C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.

Teach verification unit-by-unit: after the full grid, each row sums to 1–6, each column likewise, each region likewise. Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.

Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.

Phase 1: 18 given digits on a 6×6 board with 6 irregular regions — fill every row, column, and region with 1–6 exactly once. Step 1: R1C4 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1; 3 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 1 and region 2; 5 is already in row 1. Step 2: R2C2 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in region 1; 6 is already in row 2 and region 1. Step 3: R4C1 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 1; 3 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 5 is already in column 1 and region 3; 6 is already in column 1. Step 4: R3C3 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 3. Step 5: R3C4 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4. Step 6: R2C4 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2. Step 7: R2C6 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 5 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2. Step 8: R4C2 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in region 3; 2 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 5 is already in region 3. Step 9: R4C4 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and region 4; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4. Step 10: R4C5 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 2 is already in row 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4. Step 11: R5C4 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 4; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6. Step 12: R5C6 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 6; 2 is already in column 6; 3 is already in column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6. Step 13: R5C2 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in column 2; 4 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in row 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5. Step 14: R5C5 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 5; 3 is already in column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6. Step 15: R5C3 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 2 is already in row 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in row 5 and column 3; 6 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5. Step 16: R6C2 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 5; 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5. Step 17: R6C3 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5. Step 18: R6C5 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6. Complete: Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.

Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory.

Techniques: 18× Naked single

This Mini Sudoku board is 6×6 with 6 regions, 6 cells each and 18 given digits. Unlike classic 9×9 sudoku, the shaded regions here are irregular shapes that overlap rows and columns, so each placement affects multiple groups at once. Every row, column, and region must contain 1 through 6 with no repeats — the hint engine uses naked singles and hidden singles to walk through 18 remaining cells. Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory. Solve order (hint-driven): R1C4=6, R2C2=4, R4C1=2, R3C3=1, R3C4=2, R2C4=5, R2C6=2, R4C2=6, R4C4=1, R4C5=5, R5C4=4, R5C6=5, R5C2=1, R5C5=2, R5C3=3, R6C2=5, R6C3=2, R6C5=1. Use the Solution tab for a cell-by-cell walkthrough with live grid updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete grid at a glance.