2026-07-15
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Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Strategy coach format — cell-by-cell fills, technique labels, and strategy notes.
Overview
LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #338 is the LinkedIn Mini Sudoku daily for July 15, 2026. 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: Medium. Estimated solve time: 4–6 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.
Answer
This 6×6 Mini Sudoku starts with 12 given digits and fills 24 remaining cells. Layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each.
R2C2=6, R2C5=2, R2C6=1, R2C4=3, R5C5=5, R5C1=6, R5C2=4, R4C2=5, R4C1=2, R3C1=3, R4C6=4, R1C6=5, R1C4=6, R1C5=4, R3C4=5, R3C5=6, R3C3=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=6, R4C4=1, R5C3=1, R6C1=5, R6C2=3, R6C3=2
Analysis
Teaching LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #338: students cross-check row, column, and region before every pencil mark. Board has 12 givens on 6×6 cells. Walk through 24 forced fills using naked and hidden singles.
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.
Lesson segment 1: ask which unit is complete enough to force R2C2=6, R2C5=2, R2C6=1, R2C4=3. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Lesson segment 2: ask which unit is complete enough to force R5C5=5, R5C1=6, R5C2=4, R4C2=5. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Lesson segment 3: ask which unit is complete enough to force R4C1=2, R3C1=3, R4C6=4, R1C6=5. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Lesson segment 4: ask which unit is complete enough to force R1C4=6, R1C5=4, R3C4=5, R3C5=6. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Lesson segment 5: ask which unit is complete enough to force R3C3=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=6, R4C4=1. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Lesson segment 6: ask which unit is complete enough to force R5C3=1, R6C1=5, R6C2=3, R6C3=2. Highlight Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single — students should narrate eliminations aloud.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 12 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: R2C2=6, R2C5=2, R2C6=1, R2C4=3, R5C5=5, R5C1=6, R5C2=4, R4C2=5, R4C1=2, R3C1=3, R4C6=4, R1C6=5, R1C4=6, R1C5=4, R3C4=5, R3C5=6, R3C3=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=6, R4C4=1, R5C3=1, R6C1=5, R6C2=3, R6C3=2.
Recap for students: 12 givens, 24 deductions, one unique grid. Practice naked singles first, then hidden singles per unit.
Cells
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and region 1; 5 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.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 3 is already in column 5; 4 is already in row 2; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 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 row 2 and region 2; 3 is already in column 6; 4 is already in row 2; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C6 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 2 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 4; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 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 and region 6; 2 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in region 6; 6 is already in region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in column 1; 2 is already in row 5; 3 is already in row 5; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in row 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C1 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 2; 2 is already in row 5 and column 2; 3 is already in row 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.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in column 2; 6 is already in column 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C2 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 1 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in row 4 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.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 2 is already in column 1 and region 3; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in region 3; 6 is already in column 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C1 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 6; 2 is already in row 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4; 6 is already in column 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C6 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 6 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 6 and region 2; 4 is already in column 6; 6 is already in column 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C6 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in column 4; 5 is already in row 1 and region 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C4 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 1 and column 5 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 5 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 6 is already in row 1 and region 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C5 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in column 4 and region 4; 6 is already in column 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C4 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 4 is already in column 5 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and 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 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 2 is already in region 3; 3 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.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C3 in region 3. 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; 3 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and 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 6 fits here — 1 is already in region 3; 2 is already in row 4 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C3 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
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 column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 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.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 3; 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.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in column 1; 3 is already in column 1; 4 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and 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 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 2 is already in column 2; 4 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 5 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.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and 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.
Verification
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.
Solve path
Phase 1: 12 given digits on a 6×6 board with 6 irregular regions — fill every row, column, and region with 1–6 exactly once. Step 1: R2C2 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and region 1. Step 2: R2C5 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 3 is already in column 5; 4 is already in row 2; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 2. Step 3: R2C6 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 2 and region 2; 3 is already in column 6; 4 is already in row 2; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6. Step 4: R2C4 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 2 is already in row 2 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 4; 5 is already in row 2; 6 is already in row 2. Step 5: R5C5 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 5 and region 6; 2 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 4 is already in region 6; 6 is already in region 6. Step 6: R5C1 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in column 1; 2 is already in row 5; 3 is already in row 5; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in row 5. Step 7: R5C2 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 2; 2 is already in row 5 and column 2; 3 is already in row 5; 5 is already in row 5; 6 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5. Step 8: R4C2 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in column 2; 6 is already in column 2. Step 9: R4C1 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 1 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in row 4 and region 3; 6 is already in column 1. Step 10: R3C1 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 1 and region 3; 2 is already in column 1 and region 3; 4 is already in column 1; 5 is already in region 3; 6 is already in column 1. Step 11: R4C6 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in column 6; 2 is already in row 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4; 6 is already in column 6. Step 12: R1C6 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 6 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 6 and region 2; 4 is already in column 6; 6 is already in column 6. Step 13: R1C4 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in column 4; 5 is already in row 1 and region 2. Step 14: R1C5 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 2 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 5 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 6 is already in row 1 and region 2. Step 15: R3C4 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in column 4 and region 4; 6 is already in column 4. Step 16: R3C5 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 4 is already in column 5 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4. Step 17: R3C3 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 2 is already in region 3; 3 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. Step 18: R3C6 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 6; 3 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 4 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4. Step 19: R4C3 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in region 3; 2 is already in row 4 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3. Step 20: 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 column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4. Step 21: R5C3 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 3; 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 22: R6C1 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in column 1; 3 is already in column 1; 4 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5. Step 23: R6C2 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 2 is already in column 2; 4 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5. Step 24: R6C3 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and 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. 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: 24× Naked single
Learn more in Mini Sudoku Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
12 starting digits anchor 6 regions, 6 cells each — mark eliminations before guessing.
Naked single = one candidate in a cell. Hidden single = one cell for a digit in a unit. Use both every pass.
Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.
Solution
This Mini Sudoku board is 6×6 with 6 regions, 6 cells each and 12 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 24 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): R2C2=6, R2C5=2, R2C6=1, R2C4=3, R5C5=5, R5C1=6, R5C2=4, R4C2=5, R4C1=2, R3C1=3, R4C6=4, R1C6=5, R1C4=6, R1C5=4, R3C4=5, R3C5=6, R3C3=4, R3C6=2, R4C3=6, R4C4=1, R5C3=1, R6C1=5, R6C2=3, R6C3=2. 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.