2026-01-04
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Pattern lab format — cell-by-cell fills, technique labels, and strategy notes.
Overview
Mini Sudoku Level 4 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.
Answer
This 6×6 Mini Sudoku starts with 18 given digits and fills 18 remaining cells. Layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each.
R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1, R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6, R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2, R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4, R6C5=6, R6C6=5
Analysis
Lab sample Mini Sudoku Level 4. Dimensions 6×6. Givens: 18. Pattern tag: row-scan heavy. Technique histogram: 18× Naked single.
Board spotlight: Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory. Region geometry (6 regions, 6 cells each) shapes which unit yields the next hidden single.
Observation set 1: coordinates R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1; technique classes Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Observation set 2: coordinates R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6; technique classes Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Observation set 3: coordinates R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2; technique classes Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Observation set 4: coordinates R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4; technique classes Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Observation set 5: coordinates R6C5=6, R6C6=5; technique classes Naked single, Naked single.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 9 cells remain after the first half of the chain. Row-scan heavy boards often accelerate once two or three regions close — watch for hidden singles in tight blocks.
Late game: final batches collapse quickly when rows and columns near completion. Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats. Completed path: R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1, R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6, R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2, R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4, R6C5=6, R6C6=5.
Lab result: Row-scan heavy. Technique summary 18× Naked single. Coordinates R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1, R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6, R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2, R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4, R6C5=6, R6C6=5.
Cells
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in row 1 and column 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1 and column 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C2 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 4; 2 is already in region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in 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.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 2 is already in column 5 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in region 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C5 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in 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 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.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C5 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 3 is already in column 6 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and region 4; 6 is already in column 6 and region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C6 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in row 4 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C3 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 3 and region 1; 2 is already in column 3; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and column 3 and region 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C3 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 2 and region 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C1 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in column 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C3 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C1 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C4 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in column 5 and region 6; 2 is already in row 5 and 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; 6 is already in row 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 3 is already in row 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 1; 5 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C1 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in column 1 and region 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C1 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in 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.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 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 column 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 3 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C6 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Verification
Optimal deduction chain length 18. Technique distribution: 18× Naked single. Pattern: row-scan heavy.
Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.
Solve path
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: R1C2 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in row 1 and column 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1 and column 2. Step 2: R2C4 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 4; 2 is already in region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 5 is already in column 4; 6 is already in column 4 and region 2. Step 3: R2C5 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 2 is already in column 5 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in region 2. Step 4: R2C6 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in 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 column 6 and region 2. Step 5: R3C5 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in region 4. Step 6: R3C6 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 3 is already in column 6 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and region 4; 6 is already in column 6 and region 4. Step 7: R4C3 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in row 4 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4. Step 8: R2C3 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 3 and region 1; 2 is already in column 3; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and column 3 and region 1. Step 9: R2C1 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 2 and region 1. Step 10: R3C3 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 6 is already in column 3. Step 11: R3C1 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3. Step 12: R5C4 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4. Step 13: R5C5 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in column 5 and region 6; 2 is already in row 5 and 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; 6 is already in row 5. Step 14: R5C1 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 3 is already in row 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 1; 5 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5. Step 15: R6C1 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in column 1 and region 5. Step 16: R6C3 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in column 3 and region 5. Step 17: R6C5 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 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 column 5. Step 18: R6C6 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 3 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6. Complete: Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.
Pattern
Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory.
Techniques: 18× Naked single
Learn more in Mini Sudoku Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
6 regions, 6 cells each
18× Naked single
R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1, R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6, R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2, R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4, R6C5=6, R6C6=5
Solution
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): R1C2=4, R2C4=4, R2C5=5, R2C6=1, R3C5=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=2, R2C3=6, R2C1=2, R3C3=3, R3C1=6, R5C4=2, R5C5=3, R5C1=1, R6C1=3, R6C3=4, R6C5=6, R6C6=5. 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.