Strategy
Sudoku hints that teach
A hint that only gives you a digit solves one cell. A hint that names the technique improves every future puzzle.
A good Sudoku hint names the technique and shows the cells involved, so you learn what to look for next time. Use hints sparingly, read the explanation, then go back and find similar moves yourself. In our game and app, hints work like this.
Digit hints versus teaching hints
Many apps reveal the correct digit for a cell. It helps you finish, but you learn nothing, and soon you rely on it. A teaching hint says, for example, that a hidden single exists in a given box, and shows you why. You can then use that idea yourself.
How to use a hint well
- Try first. Spend a few minutes scanning before you ask.
- Ask for a hint when you are stuck, not as soon as it is hard.
- Read the whole explanation: the technique name, the highlighted cells, the reason.
- Apply the idea to another place in the grid. If it works there too, you learned something.
- If a hint says that a digit is wrong, fix that first.
What our hints do
On the web board, Hint looks for a naked single or hidden single and highlights it. In the solver, step by step goes further and names all twelve techniques. In the Android app, hints are unlimited, name the technique and show the cells. There are no coins to buy and no videos to watch.
How hints help you improve
Keep a short list of the techniques that hints show you most often. Those are your gaps. Read their guides (all techniques) and practice on puzzles of the same level.
Frequently asked questions
Is using hints cheating in Sudoku?
No. A hint that teaches the technique helps you learn. Use it as a coach, not as an answer key.
Do hints affect the solution?
No. Every puzzle has one solution regardless.
How many hints are fine?
As many as you need while learning. Fewer as you improve.