Naked Pairs Sudoku Strategy

How the strategy works

If two cells in one row can only be 2 or 7, then those two cells must hold 2 and 7 in some order. No other square in that row can be 2 or 7.

The same logic works inside a column or 3x3 box.

Large print practice routine

Use this technique slowly on a readable board or a printed sheet. The goal is to remove uncertainty, not to solve faster.

After each candidate cleanup, return to scanning and singles before looking for another advanced pattern.

Naked pairs are easier on paper when the candidate marks are written neatly in the same corner of each cell. If the notes become crowded, stop adding new marks and use the pair only to clean one row, column, or box at a time.

• Use pencil marks or a printed sheet.
• Look for two cells in one area with the same two candidates.
• Remove those candidates from the other cells in that area.
• After cleanup, look again for singles.

Example pattern

Example: in one row, two empty squares are marked only 2 and 7. Because both squares must be filled and both can contain only 2 or 7, those two values are reserved for that pair.

If another square in the same row also has 2 or 7 in its notes, remove those marks from that other square. The pair does not place the numbers immediately, but it clears space for the next single.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not use a naked pair when the two cells have extra candidates. A cell marked 2, 7, and 9 is not part of a naked pair yet.

Do not remove the pair from another row or box unless that other cell shares the exact same row, column, or 3x3 box as the pair.