GridWits
Medium tier Technique 6 of 20 Used by Smart Hint

Partner Check

Only two cells of this run are empty, so they split the remaining sum between them — a digit whose partner (remaining sum minus it) can't go in the other cell is impossible.

How it works

  1. 1Only two cells of this across run are empty, so they split its 11 between them — fix one and the other is forced.
  2. 2The right-hand cell shares a 16-in-two down run, and 16 over two cells is only 7 + 9.
  3. 3So 2 pairs with the 9 and 4 pairs with the 7, both fine — but 3 would need an 8 beside it and 5 would need a 6, and neither digit is available there.
  4. 4Strike 3 and 5 from the left cell.
16 11 2 3 4 5 7 9 7 9
  • Cells that establish the pattern
  • Where the conclusion lands
  • Digit ruled out
Next in the ladder Naked Pair →

Two cells in a run share the exact same two candidate digits — remove those digits from the rest of the run.