Daily Sudoku — 14 July 2026

The puzzle

  • 14 July 2026
  • Hard
  • 30 clues
Puzzle
·78···943
·4·578···
··6·43···
·3·2·5···
2·5·6····
···7·9···
8····23··
·1··9···2
6···14·9·
Solution
578126943
943578126
126943578
739285461
285461739
461739285
897652314
314897652
652314897

Solve it in the app to get on the board

Step-by-step solution

Every cell below is filled by the same hint engine the app uses, in the order it can be deduced — 51 steps using 2 techniques.

Techniques used

  • Hidden Single — inside one row, column or box this digit fits in only one cell, so it must go there
  • Naked Single — every other digit is already used in this cell's row, column or box, so only one candidate is left
  1. R1C5 = 2 · Hidden SingleIn the top-centre 3×3 box, 2 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 4 already has a 2, R1C4 and R3C4 cannot hold 2.- Because column 6 already has a 2, R1C6 cannot hold 2.So 2 must go in R1C5.
  2. R3C4 = 9 · Hidden SingleIn the top-centre 3×3 box, 9 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 1 already has a 9, R1C4 and R1C6 cannot hold 9.So 9 must go in R3C4.
  3. R6C2 = 6 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-left 3×3 box, 6 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 1 already has a 6, R4C1 and R6C1 cannot hold 6.- Because column 3 already has a 6, R4C3 and R6C3 cannot hold 6.- Because row 5 already has a 6, R5C2 cannot hold 6.So 6 must go in R6C2.
  4. R5C2 = 8 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-left 3×3 box, 8 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 1 already has a 8, R4C1 and R6C1 cannot hold 8.- Because column 3 already has a 8, R4C3 and R6C3 cannot hold 8.So 8 must go in R5C2.
  5. R5C4 = 4 · Hidden SingleIn the centre 3×3 box, 4 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 5 already has a 4, R4C5 and R6C5 cannot hold 4.- Because column 6 already has a 4, R5C6 cannot hold 4.So 4 must go in R5C4.
  6. R5C6 = 1 · Hidden SingleIn the centre 3×3 box, 1 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 5 already has a 1, R4C5 and R6C5 cannot hold 1.So 1 must go in R5C6.
  7. R1C4 = 1 · Hidden SingleIn the top-centre 3×3 box, 1 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 6 already has a 1, R1C6 cannot hold 1.So 1 must go in R1C4.
  8. R1C6 = 6 · Naked SingleLooking at R1C6:- Row 1 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 6 already has 5 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 6.
  9. R1C1 = 5 · Naked SingleLooking at R1C1:- Row 1 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 5.
  10. R8C6 = 7 · Naked SingleLooking at R8C6:- Row 8 already has 1, 2 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 6 already has 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 7.
  11. R6C5 = 3 · Hidden SingleIn the centre 3×3 box, 3 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 4 already has a 3, R4C5 cannot hold 3.So 3 must go in R6C5.
  12. R4C5 = 8 · Naked SingleLooking at R4C5:- Row 4 already has 2, 3 and 5 → ruled out.- Column 5 already has 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 8.
  13. R7C5 = 5 · Naked SingleLooking at R7C5:- Row 7 already has 2, 3 and 8 → ruled out.- Column 5 already has 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 5.
  14. R5C8 = 3 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 3 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 4 already has a 3, R4C7, R4C8 and R4C9 cannot hold 3.- Because column 7 already has a 3, R5C7 cannot hold 3.- Because column 9 already has a 3, R5C9 cannot hold 3.- Because row 6 already has a 3, R6C7, R6C8 and R6C9 cannot hold 3.So 3 must go in R5C8.
  15. R9C2 = 5 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-left 3×3 box, 5 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 7 already has a 5, R7C2 and R7C3 cannot hold 5.- Because column 1 already has a 5, R8C1 cannot hold 5.- Because column 3 already has a 5, R8C3 and R9C3 cannot hold 5.So 5 must go in R9C2.
  16. R9C3 = 2 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-left 3×3 box, 2 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 7 already has a 2, R7C2 and R7C3 cannot hold 2.- Because row 8 already has a 2, R8C1 and R8C3 cannot hold 2.So 2 must go in R9C3.
  17. R3C2 = 2 · Hidden SingleIn the top-left 3×3 box, 2 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 1 already has a 2, R2C1 and R3C1 cannot hold 2.- Because column 3 already has a 2, R2C3 cannot hold 2.So 2 must go in R3C2.
  18. R7C2 = 9 · Naked SingleLooking at R7C2:- Row 7 already has 2, 3, 5 and 8 → ruled out.- Column 2 already has 1, 4, 6 and 7 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 9.
  19. R7C3 = 7 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-left 3×3 box, 7 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 8 already has a 7, R8C1 and R8C3 cannot hold 7.So 7 must go in R7C3.
  20. R4C1 = 7 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-left 3×3 box, 7 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 3 already has a 7, R4C3 cannot hold 7.- Because row 6 already has a 7, R6C1 and R6C3 cannot hold 7.So 7 must go in R4C1.
  21. R4C3 = 9 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-left 3×3 box, 9 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 6 already has a 9, R6C1 and R6C3 cannot hold 9.So 9 must go in R4C3.
  22. R2C1 = 9 · Hidden SingleIn the top-left 3×3 box, 9 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 3 already has a 9, R2C3 cannot hold 9.- Because row 3 already has a 9, R3C1 cannot hold 9.So 9 must go in R2C1.
  23. R2C3 = 3 · Hidden SingleIn the top-left 3×3 box, 3 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 3 already has a 3, R3C1 cannot hold 3.So 3 must go in R2C3.
  24. R3C1 = 1 · Naked SingleLooking at R3C1:- Row 3 already has 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 1 already has 5, 7 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 1.
  25. R6C3 = 1 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-left 3×3 box, 1 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 1 already has a 1, R6C1 cannot hold 1.So 1 must go in R6C3.
  26. R8C3 = 4 · Naked SingleLooking at R8C3:- Row 8 already has 1, 2, 7 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 3 already has 3, 5, 6 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 4.
  27. R6C1 = 4 · Naked SingleLooking at R6C1:- Row 6 already has 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 1 already has 2, 5 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 4.
  28. R8C1 = 3 · Naked SingleLooking at R8C1:- Row 8 already has 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 1 already has 5, 6 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 3.
  29. R5C9 = 9 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 9 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 4 already has a 9, R4C7, R4C8 and R4C9 cannot hold 9.- Because column 7 already has a 9, R5C7 cannot hold 9.- Because row 6 already has a 9, R6C7, R6C8 and R6C9 cannot hold 9.So 9 must go in R5C9.
  30. R5C7 = 7 · Naked SingleLooking at R5C7:- Row 5 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 7.
  31. R9C4 = 3 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-centre 3×3 box, 3 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 7 already has a 3, R7C4 cannot hold 3.- Because row 8 already has a 3, R8C4 cannot hold 3.So 3 must go in R9C4.
  32. R8C4 = 8 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-centre 3×3 box, 8 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because row 7 already has a 8, R7C4 cannot hold 8.So 8 must go in R8C4.
  33. R7C4 = 6 · Naked SingleLooking at R7C4:- Row 7 already has 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 4 already has 1 and 4 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 6.
  34. R7C9 = 4 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-right 3×3 box, 4 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 4, R7C8 cannot hold 4.- Because row 8 already has a 4, R8C7 and R8C8 cannot hold 4.- Because row 9 already has a 4, R9C7 and R9C9 cannot hold 4.So 4 must go in R7C9.
  35. R7C8 = 1 · Naked SingleLooking at R7C8:- Row 7 already has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 1.
  36. R4C7 = 4 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 4 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 4, R4C8 cannot hold 4.- Because column 9 already has a 4, R4C9 cannot hold 4.- Because row 6 already has a 4, R6C7, R6C8 and R6C9 cannot hold 4.So 4 must go in R4C7.
  37. R4C9 = 1 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 1 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 1, R4C8 cannot hold 1.- Because row 6 already has a 1, R6C7, R6C8 and R6C9 cannot hold 1.So 1 must go in R4C9.
  38. R4C8 = 6 · Naked SingleLooking at R4C8:- Row 4 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 6.
  39. R2C7 = 1 · Hidden SingleIn the top-right 3×3 box, 1 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 1, R2C8 cannot hold 1.- Because column 9 already has a 1, R2C9 cannot hold 1.- Because row 3 already has a 1, R3C7, R3C8 and R3C9 cannot hold 1.So 1 must go in R2C7.
  40. R2C8 = 2 · Hidden SingleIn the top-right 3×3 box, 2 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 9 already has a 2, R2C9 cannot hold 2.- Because row 3 already has a 2, R3C7, R3C8 and R3C9 cannot hold 2.So 2 must go in R2C8.
  41. R2C9 = 6 · Naked SingleLooking at R2C9:- Row 2 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 6.
  42. R6C7 = 2 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 2 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 2, R6C8 cannot hold 2.- Because column 9 already has a 2, R6C9 cannot hold 2.So 2 must go in R6C7.
  43. R8C7 = 6 · Hidden SingleIn the bottom-right 3×3 box, 6 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 6, R8C8 cannot hold 6.- Because row 9 already has a 6, R9C7 and R9C9 cannot hold 6.So 6 must go in R8C7.
  44. R8C8 = 5 · Naked SingleLooking at R8C8:- Row 8 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 5.
  45. R6C9 = 5 · Hidden SingleIn the middle-right 3×3 box, 5 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 8 already has a 5, R6C8 cannot hold 5.So 5 must go in R6C9.
  46. R6C8 = 8 · Naked SingleLooking at R6C8:- Row 6 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 8.
  47. R3C8 = 7 · Naked SingleLooking at R3C8:- Row 3 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 8 already has 5 and 8 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 7.
  48. R3C7 = 5 · Hidden SingleIn the top-right 3×3 box, 5 fits in only one cell. Looking at the other empty cells:- Because column 9 already has a 5, R3C9 cannot hold 5.So 5 must go in R3C7.
  49. R3C9 = 8 · Naked SingleLooking at R3C9:- Row 3 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 8.
  50. R9C7 = 8 · Naked SingleLooking at R9C7:- Row 9 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 → ruled out.- Column 7 already has 7 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 8.
  51. R9C9 = 7 · Naked SingleLooking at R9C9:- Row 9 already has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 → ruled out.So this cell can only be 7.

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