Sudoku solving technique · Intermediate
Hidden Triple
Three digits that appear in only the same three cells of a unit.
What is a Hidden Triple?
When three numbers only appear as candidates in the same three cells within a unit, those cells must contain those three numbers. You can remove all other candidates from those three cells.
How to spot a Hidden Triple
In one unit, check where each digit can still go. If three digits together appear in only the same three cells, those digits belong in exactly those cells. Not every digit has to appear in all three cells. Every other candidate in those three cells can be removed.
- Difficulty
- In Sudoku Pro, this technique belongs to the Intermediate level.
- Learning path
- Technique 8 of 20 on the learning path
An example from the app
| Pattern (purple). Candidates 1, 2. Eliminated 4 | Pattern (purple). Candidates 2, 3. Eliminated 4 | Pattern (purple). Candidates 1, 3 | Candidates 4 |
| Empty | Empty | Empty | Given 2 |
| Empty | Given 1 | Given 4 | Given 3 |
| Given 3 | Empty | Given 2 | Given 1 |
Small digits are candidates. Crossed-out digits can be removed in this step.
- Pattern (purple)