4x4 Easy Chain Sudoku Puzzles

About Chain Sudoku Puzzles

"Chain Sudoku," also known as "Strimko," is a logic puzzle where you fill circles arranged in a square grid with digits. Some circles come with pre-filled numbers as clues, while others are empty and need to be filled in by the solver. The grid also features several chains, which are sets of interconnected circles. The cells must contain numbers that follow each other in order, like 1, 2, 3 or 5, 6, 7.

Basic Rules

• Layout: The grid is a 4x4 board containing round cells connected by chains.
• Unique Numbers: Each digit from 1-4 must appear exactly once in each row and column of the grid.

Chain Rules

Certain cells are linked by chains, indicated by lines connecting the cells. Each chain may have a specific rule, such as:

• Equality: All the cells in the chain must have the same number.
• Sequential Numbers: The numbers in the chain must be in order, like 1, 2, 3 or 2, 3, 4.
• Arithmetic Rule: The numbers in the chain must follow a math rule, like each number being the sum of its neighbors or having a fixed difference between them.

Solving Tips and Techniques:

Besides the usual methods used to solve regular Sudoku, Chain Sudoku needs some extra strategies.

• Identify Chains: Find cells where only two numbers can go. If you see two cells with the exact same two numbers as options, they might belong to a chain.
• Elimination: When you find a chain in the puzzle, you can narrow down the possible numbers for the other cells in that chain. For example, if one cell in the chain can only be a 3 or a 4, then no other cell in the chain can be a 3 or a 4.
• Use Chain Logic: You can use chain logic to solve harder puzzles. For example, if three connected cells in a chain must have the numbers 1, 2, and 3, you can use this clue to figure out where these numbers can't go in other parts of the puzzle. This helps narrow down the possibilities and makes solving the puzzle easier.

Chain Sudoku puzzles are fun and challenging, giving you more to think about than regular Sudoku. You still use the basic Sudoku rules, but the chains make you plan even more carefully. This extra challenge makes them a popular choice for people who love solving tricky puzzles!