How to Play Sudoku
Sudoku is a logic puzzle played on a 9×9 grid divided into nine 3×3 boxes. The goal is simple: fill every row, column, and box with the digits 1 through 9 — each digit appearing exactly once.
No arithmetic is involved. Sudoku is purely a game of logic and pattern recognition.
Rule 1 Every row must contain the digits 1–9 with no repetition.
Rule 2 Every column must contain the digits 1–9 with no repetition.
Rule 3 Every 3×3 box must contain the digits 1–9 with no repetition.
How to Solve Sudoku Faster
Speed in Sudoku comes from recognising patterns before you think — not from rushing. These techniques work at every level.
Scanning
Start by scanning rows and columns for digits that appear often. Follow the constraints to find where remaining digits must go.
Single Candidate
Look for cells where only one digit is logically possible. Eliminate what each row, column, and box already contains.
Naked Pairs
If two cells in the same group can only hold the same two digits, those digits are eliminated from all other cells in that group.
The History of Sudoku
Sudoku was not invented in Japan. The modern puzzle was designed by American architect Howard Garns and first published in 1979 in New York under the name Number Place.
In 1984, Japanese publisher Nikoli introduced the puzzle as 数独 (Sūdoku). The global breakthrough came in 2004 when the puzzle reached The Times of London — within months it had spread to newspapers worldwide.
Today Sudoku is estimated to be played by over 100 million people daily, making it one of the most popular puzzles ever created.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sudoku? +
A number-placement logic puzzle on a 9×9 grid. Fill every row, column, and 3×3 box with the digits 1–9, each appearing exactly once. No math required.
Can every Sudoku be solved without guessing? +
Yes — every puzzle on Burmly is mathematically guaranteed to have exactly one solution reachable by logic alone. The generator checks uniqueness after every cell removal.
What is the difference between Easy, Medium and Hard? +
Easy (46 givens) can be solved with basic scanning. Medium (36 givens) requires single-candidate logic. Hard (26 givens) demands advanced techniques like naked pairs and box-line reduction.
How does the leaderboard work? +
When you complete a puzzle, enter a nickname and your result is saved to a live global leaderboard. Each difficulty has its own ranking sorted by solve time.
Is Burmly Sudoku free? +
Yes, completely free. No account required, no ads, no time limits. Play as many puzzles as you want.