Case LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #332: 6×6 grid, 10 fixed digits, 26 open cells. Region layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each. Full placement map: R3C5=4, R4C2=3, R2C6=3, R1C3=3, R1C2=2, R4C5=1, R5C3=2, R6C3=6, R3C3=5, R5C1=4, R5C6=6, R4C6=5, R4C4=6, R5C5=3, R6C2=1, R3C2=6, R2C2=4, R2C4=5, R1C4=4, R1C5=6, R1C1=5, R2C1=6, R3C1=1, R6C4=2, R6C5=5, R6C6=4.
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: R3C5=4, R4C2=3, R2C6=3, R1C3=3. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row).
Evidence block 2: R1C2=2, R4C5=1, R5C3=2, R6C3=6. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Naked single.
Evidence block 3: R3C3=5, R5C1=4, R5C6=6, R4C6=5. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 4: R4C4=6, R5C5=3, R6C2=1, R3C2=6. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 5: R2C2=4, R2C4=5, R1C4=4, R1C5=6. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 6: R1C1=5, R2C1=6, R3C1=1, R6C4=2. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 7: R6C5=5, R6C6=4. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 13 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: R3C5=4, R4C2=3, R2C6=3, R1C3=3, R1C2=2, R4C5=1, R5C3=2, R6C3=6, R3C3=5, R5C1=4, R5C6=6, R4C6=5, R4C4=6, R5C5=3, R6C2=1, R3C2=6, R2C2=4, R2C4=5, R1C4=4, R1C5=6, R1C1=5, R2C1=6, R3C1=1, R6C4=2, R6C5=5, R6C6=4.
Verdict: placement set R3C5=4, R4C2=3, R2C6=3, R1C3=3, R1C2=2, R4C5=1, R5C3=2, R6C3=6, R3C3=5, R5C1=4, R5C6=6, R4C6=5, R4C4=6, R5C5=3, R6C2=1, R3C2=6, R2C2=4, R2C4=5, R1C4=4, R1C5=6, R1C1=5, R2C1=6, R3C1=1, R6C4=2, R6C5=5, R6C6=4 satisfies all sudoku constraints. Case closed.