Case LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #322: 6×6 grid, 16 fixed digits, 20 open cells. Region layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each. Full placement map: R1C1=4, R1C5=3, R1C6=1, R1C2=2, R2C1=5, R2C2=1, R2C5=4, R2C6=6, R3C1=3, R3C6=4, R4C1=6, R4C3=1, R4C4=3, R4C6=2, R5C3=4, R5C4=6, R6C2=6, R6C3=5, R6C4=4, R6C5=2.
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.
Evidence block 1: R1C1=4, R1C5=3, R1C6=1, R1C2=2. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 2: R2C1=5, R2C2=1, R2C5=4, R2C6=6. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 3: R3C1=3, R3C6=4, R4C1=6, R4C3=1. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 4: R4C4=3, R4C6=2, R5C3=4, R5C4=6. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 5: R6C2=6, R6C3=5, R6C4=4, R6C5=2. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 10 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: R1C1=4, R1C5=3, R1C6=1, R1C2=2, R2C1=5, R2C2=1, R2C5=4, R2C6=6, R3C1=3, R3C6=4, R4C1=6, R4C3=1, R4C4=3, R4C6=2, R5C3=4, R5C4=6, R6C2=6, R6C3=5, R6C4=4, R6C5=2.
Verdict: placement set R1C1=4, R1C5=3, R1C6=1, R1C2=2, R2C1=5, R2C2=1, R2C5=4, R2C6=6, R3C1=3, R3C6=4, R4C1=6, R4C3=1, R4C4=3, R4C6=2, R5C3=4, R5C4=6, R6C2=6, R6C3=5, R6C4=4, R6C5=2 satisfies all sudoku constraints. Case closed.