Sudoku requires no calculation or arithmetic skills. It is essentially a game of placing numbers in squares, using very simple rules of logic and deduction. It can be played by children and adults and the rules are simple to learn.

Sudoku Objective

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow. In a 9 by 9 square Sudoku game:

• Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order
• Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order
• Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9

Similarly, smaller Sudoku puzzles, such as the 4x4 puzzle, must have the numerals 1 through 4 in each row, column and subsection. Larger Sudoku games (16 by 16) must have numerals 1 through 16 in each row, column and region. The principles are the same whatever the size of the game.