What is a sudoku cheat sheet?

A one-page reference of the solving techniques that crack harder puzzles — pairs, triples, pointing pairs and box-line reduction — each shown on a real grid. Print it and keep it beside you while you solve.

Is using a cheat sheet cheating?

Not at all. A cheat sheet just reminds you which logical technique to reach for — you still do all the solving yourself. It's a learning aid, like a recipe card, not an answer key.

What techniques are on the cheat sheet?

Naked and hidden pairs, naked and hidden triples, pointing pairs and box-line reduction. These intermediate methods eliminate candidates to open up hard puzzles without any guessing.

Do I need these techniques for every puzzle?

No. Easy and medium puzzles often fall to simple scanning and singles. You'll reach for pairs, triples and box-line reduction once puzzles get hard and the easy placements run out.

Sudoku Cheat Sheet — Every Intermediate Technique

Stuck when simple scanning runs out? This sudoku cheat sheet puts every intermediate technique on one printable page, each with a real worked grid so you can see the pattern, not just read about it. Print it, keep it handy, and follow the wiki link under each one for the full method.

Two cells holding the same two candidates, letting you remove those digits elsewhere in the unit.

Naked pair

Two cells in the same row, column or box share exactly the same two candidates — so those two digits are locked to those cells and can be cleared from the rest of the unit. Full method: learn the naked pair on the wiki.

Learn the Naked pair on the wiki →

Two digits confined to the same two cells, so all other candidates in those cells fall away.

Hidden pair

Two digits can only go in the same two cells of a unit, even if those cells show other candidates too — so you can strip every other candidate from that pair. Full method: learn the hidden pair on the wiki.

Learn the Hidden pair on the wiki →

Three cells holding three candidates between them, letting you eliminate those digits elsewhere.

Naked triple

Three cells in a unit share just three candidates between them — so those three digits belong only to those cells and can be cleared from the rest of the unit. Full method: learn the naked triple on the wiki.

Learn the Naked triple on the wiki →

Three digits confined to three cells, so the extra candidates in those cells can be removed.

Hidden triple

Three digits are restricted to the same three cells of a unit, hidden among other candidates — so every other candidate in those cells can go. Full method: learn the hidden triple on the wiki.

Learn the Hidden triple on the wiki →

A digit pinned to one line inside a box, so it can be cleared from that line outside the box.

Pointing pair

When a digit's only spots inside a box all sit in one row or column, that digit must land on that line within the box — so you can remove it from the rest of that row or column. Full method: learn the pointing pair on the wiki.

Learn the Pointing pair on the wiki →

A digit confined to one box within a line, so it can be removed from the rest of that box.

Box-line reduction

The mirror of the pointing pair: when a digit in a row or column can only fall inside one box, you can clear that digit from the rest of that box. Full method: learn box-line reduction on the wiki.

Learn the Box-line reduction on the wiki →

What's inside the printable

The cheat-sheet PDF fits all six intermediate techniques — naked and hidden pairs, naked and hidden triples, pointing pairs and box-line reduction — onto one printable page, each with the worked grid you see here. It's the page our competitors skip: real examples, not just terms. Free, branded, no sign-up. Print it or save the PDF.

Print puzzles to practice

Open the printable puzzles →

Want the full lessons?

These pages are quick printable references. For the full, step-by-step teaching of any rule or technique — with interactive grids and worked walkthroughs — head to Sudoku247 Wiki. We keep it short here so you can print and go; the wiki goes deep.

Sudoku rules →

← Back to all Sudoku rules

Frequently asked questions

What is a sudoku cheat sheet?: A one-page reference of the solving techniques that crack harder puzzles — pairs, triples, pointing pairs and box-line reduction — each shown on a real grid. Print it and keep it beside you while you solve.
Is using a cheat sheet cheating?: Not at all. A cheat sheet just reminds you which logical technique to reach for — you still do all the solving yourself. It's a learning aid, like a recipe card, not an answer key.
What techniques are on the cheat sheet?: Naked and hidden pairs, naked and hidden triples, pointing pairs and box-line reduction. These intermediate methods eliminate candidates to open up hard puzzles without any guessing.
Do I need these techniques for every puzzle?: No. Easy and medium puzzles often fall to simple scanning and singles. You'll reach for pairs, triples and box-line reduction once puzzles get hard and the easy placements run out.