Glossary

An dynamic guide to learning more about Sudoku.

2x2 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 4x4 grid subdivided into a 2x2 set of 2x2 grids. This is the smallest possible size of sudoku. (Also, see 4x4 (standard)) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x3 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 6x6 grid subdivided into a 2x3 set of 3x2 grids. (Also, see 6x6) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x4 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using an 8x8 grid subdivided into a 2x4 set of 4x2 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x5 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 10x10 grid subdivided into a 2x5 set of 5x2 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x6 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 12x12 grid subdivided into a 2x6 set of 6x2 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x7 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 14x14 grid subdivided into a 2x7 set of 7x2 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

2x8 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 16x16 grid subdivided into a 2x8 set of 8x2 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

3x3 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 9x9 grid subdivided into a 3x3 set of 3x3 grids. This is the original and traditional size of the Sudoku puzzle. (Also, see 9x9 standard) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

3x4 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 12x12 grid subdivided into a 3x4 set of 4x3 grids. (Also, see 12x12) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

3x5 -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 15x15 grid subdivided into a 3x5 set of 5x3 grids. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

4x4 (standard) -- Standard term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 4x4 grid subdivided into a 2x2 set of 2x2 grids. This is the smallest possible size of sudoku. (Also, see 2x2) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

4x4 (technical) -- Technical term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 16x16 grid subdivided into a 4x4 set of 4x4 grids. More commonly referred to as a 16x16 Sudoku or sometimes a 'Super-sudoku'. (Also, see 16x16) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

6x6 -- Standard term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 6x6 grid subdivided into a 2x3 set of 3x2 grids. (Also, see 2x3) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

9x9 -- Standard term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 9x9 grid subdivided into a 3x3 set of 3x3 grids. This is the original and traditional size of the Sudoku puzzle. (Also, see 3x3) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

12x12 -- Standard term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 12x12 grid subdivided into a 3x4 set of 4x3 grids. (Also, see 3x4) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

16x16 -- Standard term for a Sudoku puzzle using a 16x16 grid subdivided into a 4x4 set of 4x4 grids. Sometimes referred to as a 'Super-sudoku'. (Also, see 4x4 (technical)) Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Beginner Puzzle -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which only requires a knowledge of easy level tactics to solve logically and includes extra given clues for the ease of the player.

Box -- A single subdivision of a Sudoku puzzle.

Box/line Intersection (or intersection removal) -- A medium level Sudoku tactic.

Clue(s) -- Any solution candidate to a square which was given at the start of the puzzle or has been filled by the player.

Column -- A verticle alignment of squares.

Easy Puzzle -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which only requires a knowledge of easy level tactics to solve logically.

Easy Tutorial -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which only requires a knowledge of easy level tactics to solve logically.

Elimination -- The deduction of the possibility of a specific candidate existing in a given square.

Expert Tutorial -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which requires a knowledge of expert level tactics to solve logically.

Forced Moves -- An easy level Sudoku tactic in which all but one candidates are eliminated from possibly existing in a given box.

Given Clue -- Any clue that appears at the start of a puzzle.

Hard Puzzle -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which requires a knowledge of hard level tactics to solve logically.

Hard Tutorial -- A Sudoku tutorial of any size which requires a knowledge of hard level tactics to solve logically.

Hidden Pairs -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Hidden Quads -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Hidden Triples -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Intersection Removal (or box/line intersection) -- A medium level Sudoku tactic.

Latin Square -- A square grid of any size which contains every number between 1 and the size exactly once in each column and row. Invented by Leonhard Euler.

Locked Sets -- The single hard level sudoku tactic. All other hard level tactics are specific types of locked sets.

Medium Puzzle -- A Sudoku puzzle of any size which requires a knowledge of medium level tactics to solve logically.

Medium Tutorial -- A Sudoku tutorial of any size which requires a knowledge of medium level tactics to solve logically.

Naked Pairs -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Naked Quads -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Naked Triplets -- An hard level Sudoku tactic.

Order 4 -- The term used for a 4x4 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 5 -- The term used for a 5x5 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 6 -- The term used for a 6x6 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 7 -- The term used for a 7x7 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 8 -- The term used for a 8x8 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 9 -- The term used for a 9x9 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 10 -- The term used for a 10x10 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 11 -- The term used for a 11x11 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 12 -- The term used for a 12x12 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 13 -- The term used for a 13x13 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 14 -- The term used for a 14x14 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 15 -- The term used for a 15x15 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Order 16 -- The term used for a 16x16 grid latin square. Read Article -- Try a Puzzle

Pinned Squares -- An easy level Sudoku tactic.

Pointing Pairs -- A medium level Sudoku tactic. A type of intersection removal

Puzzle Size -- The dimensions of a puzzle.

Remote Pairs -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

Reserved Square(s) -- A square or square which is limited to a specific number of possible solution candidates.

Row -- a horizontal alignment of squares.

Square -- A unit which a single candidate must occupy in a Latin Square or Sudoku puzzle.

Swordfish -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

WXYZ-Chain -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

X-wing -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

XY-Chain -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

XYZ-Chain -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.

Y-Wing -- An expert level Sudoku tactic.