GridWits
Expert tier Technique 12 of 20 Reference only

Hidden Triple

Three guaranteed digits only fit in the same three cells of a run — strip those cells down to just those three.

The solver does not attempt this technique, so Smart Hint will never suggest it. It is documented because you may still want to spot it yourself.

How it works

  1. 1Five cells summing to 33 leaves only two combinations: {4, 5, 7, 8, 9} and {3, 6, 7, 8, 9}.
  2. 2Whichever it is, a 7, an 8 and a 9 all appear in this run.
  3. 3The first two cells can't hold any of them, so those three digits are squeezed into the last three cells — one each.
  4. 4Strike every other candidate from those three cells.
33 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 5 7 8 9 3 7 8 9 6 7 8 9
  • Cells that establish the pattern
  • Where the conclusion lands
  • Digit ruled out
Next in the ladder Hidden Quad →

Four guaranteed digits only fit in the same four cells of a run — strip those cells down to just those four.