Medium Sudoku puzzles are a solid progression between the simple beginner friendly grids and the more advanced puzzles that require deeper logical reasoning. If you have already successfully gone through the easy version of Sudoku and are finding yourself finishing that grid too quickly, medium level Sudoku is the perfect next step. It is the same game. Same rules, higher level of thinking, with the number of digits given reduced. The amount of digits is lower and you have to be more thoughtful to find the valid solution.
Sudoku is a number puzzle based on logic in which you try to fill in the empty squares so that every row, column, and 3×3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 exactly once. This remains unchanged with levels of difficulty. What does shift with the level is how much starting information you are provided. Easy puzzles could provide you enough information to solve the grid simply by elimination. In medium versions, less digits are provided at the start and more forethought is required by you to keep track of possibilities, and sometimes, even use a combination of strategies to advance.
Why Play Medium Sudoku?
Many Sudoku players appreciate the game for the way it challenges their thinking without using math. In my opinion, a medium is just enough of a leap in difficulty from an easy puzzle that you are challenged, but not overwhelmed. Casual solvers get the satisfaction of solving a puzzle without wasted hours of frustration stuck on a puzzle.
Medium puzzles are also very beneficial for concentration. They require that you stay focused, but the potential to solve one is still within reach with patience. For students and working people, a medium Sudoku puzzle is a good way to refresh your brain during a break, similar to a crossword puzzle or a quick board game.
Another reason so many players find medium Sudoku enticing is the variety they provide. If you solve enough easy puzzles, they can begin to feel repetitive, whereas hard ones can feel daunting. Medium puzzles deliver a good mix of both, while offering variety and challenge without as much of a frustrating element.
Medium Sudoku Puzzle Strategies
- Cross-Hatching Select a number (for example, the number 5) and look at all the rows and columns to determine where that number can fit in a 3×3 box. From there, by eliminatng the positions where the digit can be placed, you’ll likely find the location for that digit.
- Pencil Marks (Candidates) List potential numbers in blank squares. As you progress, you’ll eliminate possible numbers until a single number remains. This technique is important when filling in medium puzzles because many of the squares won't be immediately obvious.
- Naked Pairs and Triples When two cells in a row, column, or box that are only two of the same numbers, you can eliminate those numbers from all of the other cells in that area, which can sometimes have a chain reaction with respect to possibilities (and will help spur you to the next logical step in medium-level puzzles).
- Box-Line Reduction The number in your box is only applicable to one row or column. You can eliminate that number from the other cells in the same line outside of that box.
- Color Coding and Notes In printed paper Sudoku players typically us different colors for the different digits to keep track of possibilities. With online Sudoku, players can usually jot notes down to make managing multiple candidates easier.
Read Also: The Sudoku Daily Challenge
A Option of Step-by-Step:
Let's take the case of a medium Sudoku and you might notice that the number 7 appeared only once in the top-left 3×3 box. Then as you begin to look across that row and down that column it is easy to see there is only one place left for it. After playing that 7, a new opportunity was created : another box, now having only option for 7, I can put in there too.
This is what creates the real excitement with medium Sudoku. You do these little steps that start build momentum, then increasingly fill in the puzzle through logical deductions.
Benefits of Solving Medium Sudoku:
- Better Memory and Concentration Finding numbers and possibilities trains your short-term memory, and improves your ability to focus.
- Reducing Stress Many players view Sudoku as a contributor to their overall calm. This is primarily because players step away from the daily pressures we are all accustomed to and just focus on solving the puzzle.
- Improvement in Problem-Solving Skills A medium sudoku requires players to think more artificially to remain systematic. Systematic thinking can be a useful skill when engaged in academia or one's career.
- Accessibility It is easy to access sudoku puzzles whether they are in newspapers, a book, or online. One does not even need sophisticated tools or equipment - merely logic and patience.
- Progression to Hard Once you comfortably solvable medium puzzles. You will have all the groundwork to look at employing some of the strategies needed for hard and expert-level sudoku.
Playing Medium Sudoku Online
Playing medium sudoku online often has many fun features. Some include the ability to:
- Identify errors, so you can see where you made your mistake.
- Use note-taking features for noting candidates without cluttering the edges of the grid.
- Utilize undo and redo options, so if you want to experiment you can do that without fear of ruining your grid.
- Hints that give you nudges when you get stuck.
Hints for Newcomers To Medium
- Work row by row instead of hopping around.
- Don't guess. Sudoku is always solvable by logic.
- Use elimination as often as possible.
- If you get stuck, take a break; when you come back, fresh eyes may see what you missed.
- With time, you will begin to recognize common themes and strategies without thinking about it.
The Pleasure of Medium Sudoku
Medium Sudoku is not just a hobby, it is a mental exercise that requires patience, focus, and reasoning. Unlike most games, it involves no luck at all. The solution is obtained step by step, and finishing the puzzle adds a rewarding ' I did it' feeling from the final number.
Many describe doing a medium puzzle as "the right level of challenge" - it's not too easy, not too difficult but just enough to feel satisfied and have a challenge. Whether it be one a day, or several each week, it is a sustainable activity.
Final Thoughts
Medium Sudoku puzzles are the sweet spot between casual play and some serious thought process! Puzzles like medium sudoku problems are the best because they fit right in between, allowing your brain to think logically and acknowledge that you are allowed to even put the pencil down for a while and start up again at a later time. Anyone can get better at speed! If you take the time to work through some medium puzzles, you will build confidence for the higher levels, or even to complete your first difficult puzzle!
If you are looking for a little challenge but some fun too and have a good balance of enjoyment and mental activity then medium sudoku is for you! So pick up that pencil and or open that online grid, and enjoy the accomplishment of filling in the blanks one logical step at a time!
