GridWits
Expert tier Technique 23 of 31 Used by Smart Hint

XY-Wing (Y-Wing)

A pivot of two candidates with two wings sharing one each — the digit they have in common falls anywhere seeing both.

How it works

  1. 1Find a cell with exactly two candidates {x,y} — the pivot — and two cells that see it with candidates {x,z} and {y,z}.
  2. 2Whichever the pivot turns out to be, one of the wings is forced to z.
  3. 3So z is impossible in any cell that sees both wings. Strike it there.
Next in the ladder W-Wing →

Two cells with the same pair, joined by a strong link — the digit not in the link falls anywhere seeing both.