LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #335 is a 6×6 Mini Sudoku with 10 givens, 6 regions, 6 cells each, and 26 cells to deduce. Technique mix: 22× Naked single, 4× Hidden single (row). Every row, column, and shaded region must hold digits 1–6 exactly once.
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.
Batch 1: placements R3C5=1, R4C2=3, R6C6=3, R6C2=1. Techniques observed: Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row). R3C5 — 1 cannot go anywhere else in row 3 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R4C2 — 3 cannot go anywhere else in row 4 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R6C6 — 3 cannot go anywhere else in row 6 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R6C2 — 1 cannot go anywhere else in row 6 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash.
Batch 2: placements R5C3=3, R1C3=6, R3C3=2, R2C3=1. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R5C3 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in region 5; 2 is already in region 5; 4 is already in column 3; 5 is already in column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in row 5 and region 5. R1C3 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1; 2 is already in row 1; 3 is already in column 3; 4 is already in column 3; 5 is already in column 3. R3C3 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in column 3; 6 is already in column 3. R2C3 — Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 3; 3 is already in row 2 and column 3; 4 is already in column 3; 5 is already in column 3; 6 is already in column 3 and region 1.
Batch 3: placements R3C2=5, R1C2=4, R1C5=5, R1C1=3. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R3C2 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 2 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and region 3; 6 is already in column 2. R1C2 — Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in row 1; 3 is already in column 2; 5 is already in column 2; 6 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1. R1C5 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and region 2; 3 is already in column 5 and region 2; 4 is already in row 1; 6 is already in row 1. R1C1 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 2 is already in row 1 and column 1; 4 is already in row 1 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1; 6 is already in row 1 and region 1.
Batch 4: placements R2C1=5, R2C2=2, R2C6=6, R2C4=4. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R2C1 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 2 is already in column 1; 3 is already in row 2 and column 1 and region 1; 4 is already in region 1; 6 is already in region 1. R2C2 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 4 is already in column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 6 is already in column 2 and region 1. R2C6 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 2 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 column 6; 5 is already in row 2 and region 2. R2C4 — Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 2 is already in row 2 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 5 is already in row 2 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and region 2.
Batch 5: placements R3C1=6, R4C6=5, R5C1=4, R5C5=2. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R3C1 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 4 is already in row 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3. R4C6 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 2 is already in column 6; 3 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 6 is already in column 6. R5C1 — Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in column 1 and region 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 5 is already in column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5. R5C5 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5; 5 is already in column 5; 6 is already in row 5.
Batch 6: placements R4C5=6, R4C4=2, R5C4=5, R5C6=1. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R4C5 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and column 5 and region 4. R4C4 — Only 2 fits here — 1 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 column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and region 4. R5C4 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 4; 2 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 4; 6 is already in row 5. R5C6 — Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 5 and column 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 6.
Batch 7: placements R6C4=6, R6C5=4. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single. R6C4 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 4 is already in column 4; 5 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6. R6C5 — Only 4 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; 5 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6.
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=1, R4C2=3, R6C6=3, R6C2=1, R5C3=3, R1C3=6, R3C3=2, R2C3=1, R3C2=5, R1C2=4, R1C5=5, R1C1=3, R2C1=5, R2C2=2, R2C6=6, R2C4=4, R3C1=6, R4C6=5, R5C1=4, R5C5=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=2, R5C4=5, R5C6=1, R6C4=6, R6C5=4.
Verification: Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats. Pattern classification: row-scan heavy. Full digit map R3C5=1, R4C2=3, R6C6=3, R6C2=1, R5C3=3, R1C3=6, R3C3=2, R2C3=1, R3C2=5, R1C2=4, R1C5=5, R1C1=3, R2C1=5, R2C2=2, R2C6=6, R2C4=4, R3C1=6, R4C6=5, R5C1=4, R5C5=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=2, R5C4=5, R5C6=1, R6C4=6, R6C5=4 is consistent with givens and region borders.