Case LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #352: 6×6 grid, 12 fixed digits, 24 open cells. Region layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each. Full placement map: R3C2=5, R3C1=4, R3C5=2, R3C6=1, R4C2=3, R4C3=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=5, R5C1=3, R1C1=5, R1C3=3, R2C3=1, R2C2=6, R2C4=4, R2C5=3, R5C3=4, R5C6=6, R1C6=2, R1C4=6, R5C4=1, R6C2=1, R6C3=5, R6C4=2, R6C5=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: R3C2=5, R3C1=4, R3C5=2, R3C6=1. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 2: R4C2=3, R4C3=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=5. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 3: R5C1=3, R1C1=5, R1C3=3, R2C3=1. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 4: R2C2=6, R2C4=4, R2C5=3, R5C3=4. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 5: R5C6=6, R1C6=2, R1C4=6, R5C4=1. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
Evidence block 6: R6C2=1, R6C3=5, R6C4=2, R6C5=4. Chain of reasoning ties givens to these cells via Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single.
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: R3C2=5, R3C1=4, R3C5=2, R3C6=1, R4C2=3, R4C3=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=5, R5C1=3, R1C1=5, R1C3=3, R2C3=1, R2C2=6, R2C4=4, R2C5=3, R5C3=4, R5C6=6, R1C6=2, R1C4=6, R5C4=1, R6C2=1, R6C3=5, R6C4=2, R6C5=4.
Verdict: placement set R3C2=5, R3C1=4, R3C5=2, R3C6=1, R4C2=3, R4C3=2, R4C5=6, R4C4=5, R5C1=3, R1C1=5, R1C3=3, R2C3=1, R2C2=6, R2C4=4, R2C5=3, R5C3=4, R5C6=6, R1C6=2, R1C4=6, R5C4=1, R6C2=1, R6C3=5, R6C4=2, R6C5=4 satisfies all sudoku constraints. Case closed.