Recently, I have been having some fun learning to play a game called Sudoku(pronounced Soo-Dough-Koo). It looks challenging, and sounds challenging, and it is challenging. :) The object of the game is to fill the board with numbers. Now you cannot fill the board with random numbers, you have to fill it all out with the numbers 1-9. Sounds easy, huh? WRONG!
You must fit the numbers 1-9 in every column without repeating any numbers in that column. That makes it a little more difficult. But you havent heard the end of it yet! You must also put the num,bers 1-9 in every row without repeating. That sounds pretty hard, doesn't it?
Well, if you study a Sudoku puzzle board, then you will notice that there are rows of nine, columns of nine, and then there are boxes of nine. Yes, that's right, boxes. If you are thinking what I think your thinking, then I don't have to tell you that you also have to fit 1-9 in every box without repeating as well!
It might make more sense if you study a solved one.

Click Here for Enlarged Picture
So as you can see it can get pretty complicated. The game is mainly a process of ellimination. First you would look at the row and see, "Is there a 1?" and if there isn't you would find all the possible places in the row to put the 1, and mark it as optional. As you sontinue and find more areas where other 1's can be, you will eliminate more and more, and therefore leave only one left. Here are a few more puzzles that we have completed.

Click Here for Larger Picture

Click Here for Larger Picture

Click Here for Larger Picture
Now that you have seen it, why go to the stores for a book? Play it online free here! If you need some better instructions for playing, and some hints as well for how to solve, simply go to http://www.sudoku.net/ and explore around!
Have fun!

