LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #355 is a 6×6 Mini Sudoku with 8 givens, 6 regions, 6 cells each, and 28 cells to deduce. Technique mix: 22× Naked single, 6× 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 R2C5=1, R3C2=1, R4C5=4, R5C2=4. Techniques observed: Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row), Hidden single (row). R2C5 — 1 cannot go anywhere else in row 2 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R3C2 — 1 cannot go anywhere else in row 3 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R4C5 — 4 cannot go anywhere else in row 4 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R5C2 — 4 cannot go anywhere else in row 5 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash.
Batch 2: placements R1C6=4, R2C6=6, R2C2=5, R2C3=4. Techniques observed: Hidden single (row), Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R1C6 — 4 cannot go anywhere else in row 1 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R2C6 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 2 is already in row 2; 3 is already in row 2 and region 2; 4 is already in column 6 and region 2; 5 is already in column 6. R2C2 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in row 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2; 4 is already in column 2; 6 is already in row 2. R2C3 — Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and column 3 and region 1; 2 is already in row 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and column 3; 5 is already in row 2 and region 1; 6 is already in row 2.
Batch 3: placements R6C1=1, R5C1=6, R1C1=3, R1C2=6. Techniques observed: Hidden single (row), Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R6C1 — 1 cannot go anywhere else in row 6 — every other empty cell is blocked by a row, column, or region clash. R5C1 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in column 1; 3 is already in row 5 and region 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 1 and region 5; 5 is already in row 5. R1C1 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 2 is already in column 1 and region 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 5 is already in region 1; 6 is already in column 1. R1C2 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 2 is already in region 1; 3 is already in row 1 and region 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in column 2 and region 1.
Batch 4: placements R4C1=5, R5C5=2, R1C5=5, R1C4=2. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R4C1 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 2 is already in column 1; 3 is already in column 1; 4 is already in row 4 and column 1 and region 3; 6 is already in column 1. R5C5 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 5; 4 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5. R1C5 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 2 is already in column 5; 3 is already in row 1 and region 2; 4 is already in row 1 and column 5 and region 2; 6 is already in row 1 and region 2. R1C4 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 2; 3 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 4 is already in row 1 and column 4 and region 2; 5 is already in row 1 and region 2; 6 is already in row 1 and region 2.
Batch 5: placements R4C4=6, R3C4=5, R3C5=3, R3C6=2. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R4C4 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4. R3C4 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 4; 2 is already in column 4; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4; 6 is already in column 4 and region 4. R3C5 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 2 is already in column 5; 4 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in region 4. R3C6 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 6 and region 4; 3 is already in row 3 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 column 6 and region 4.
Batch 6: placements R3C3=6, R4C3=2, R4C2=3, R5C4=1. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R3C3 — Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 2 is already in row 3; 3 is already in row 3 and column 3; 4 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and region 3. R4C3 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 3 is already in column 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4 and column 3 and region 3. R4C2 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in row 4 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 5 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3. R5C4 — Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 4; 4 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4.
Batch 7: placements R6C2=2, R6C3=5, R6C5=6, R6C6=3. Techniques observed: Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. R6C2 — Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 3 is already in column 2 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in column 2; 6 is already in column 2 and region 5. R6C3 — Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in column 3 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 3 and region 5; 6 is already in column 3 and region 5. R6C5 — Only 6 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 column 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 5 and region 6. R6C6 — Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 14 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: R2C5=1, R3C2=1, R4C5=4, R5C2=4, R1C6=4, R2C6=6, R2C2=5, R2C3=4, R6C1=1, R5C1=6, R1C1=3, R1C2=6, R4C1=5, R5C5=2, R1C5=5, R1C4=2, R4C4=6, R3C4=5, R3C5=3, R3C6=2, R3C3=6, R4C3=2, R4C2=3, R5C4=1, R6C2=2, R6C3=5, R6C5=6, R6C6=3.
Verification: Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats. Pattern classification: row-scan heavy. Full digit map R2C5=1, R3C2=1, R4C5=4, R5C2=4, R1C6=4, R2C6=6, R2C2=5, R2C3=4, R6C1=1, R5C1=6, R1C1=3, R1C2=6, R4C1=5, R5C5=2, R1C5=5, R1C4=2, R4C4=6, R3C4=5, R3C5=3, R3C6=2, R3C3=6, R4C3=2, R4C2=3, R5C4=1, R6C2=2, R6C3=5, R6C5=6, R6C6=3 is consistent with givens and region borders.