Frame Sudoku Puzzles

About Frame Sudoku

Frame Sudoku is a type of Sudoku puzzle that has extra hints around the edges of the 9x9 grid. These hints help you solve the puzzle along with the regular Sudoku rules.

Rules / How to Play

• Number Placement: Fill the grid so that each row, column, and 3x3 sub-grid (box) contains the digits 1 through 9 without repetition.
• No Repetition: Numbers must not repeat within any row, column, or 3x3 sub-grid of each 9x9 grid.
• Frame Clues: Numbers placed in the frame outside the grid indicate the sum of the first three digits in the corresponding direction (row or column). For example, if a clue outside the first row is 15, it means the sum of the first three numbers in that row should equal 15.

Solving Tips and Techniques:

The solving process uses a mix of classic Sudoku rules and simple math based on the frame clues.

• Start with Frame Clues: Look for rows or columns where the clue gives only a few possible sets of three numbers that add up to the given total. For example, if the clue is 6, the only possible numbers are 1, 2, and 3, which can be arranged in any order.
• Frame Number Analysis: Make sure the possible combinations for the sum follow Sudoku rules. Check that no numbers repeat in the same row, column, or 3x3 box. Then, figure out which numbers can go in the first three positions without breaking these rules.
• Cross-Referencing: Use clues from both rows and columns to double-check the numbers. For example, a clue at the top of a column and one on the left of a row might meet, helping you rule out more possibilities.

By using these methods and thinking logically, you can solve Frame Sudoku puzzles, no matter how easy or hard they are.