Expert Sudoku
Very few clues. Basic scanning stalls here — candidate elimination is no longer optional.
Puzzle 1
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 2
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 3
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 4
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 5
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 6
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 7
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 8
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 9
26 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 10
26 clues · 9×9
About expert sudoku
An expert grid opens with just 26 clues, leaving 55 cells. There is usually no cell on the board that can be solved by scanning alone at the start, which is what separates this level from hard.
The workflow inverts: instead of placing digits and seeing what follows, you pencil candidates into most of the grid first and then hunt for structure in them, pairs of cells sharing the same two candidates, or a candidate confined to one line inside a box. Placements come out of that structure, a few at a time.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a sudoku "expert" rather than hard?
The clue count drops to 26, leaving 55 cells, and more importantly there is usually no cell solvable by scanning at the start. Hard puzzles give you a foothold; expert ones make you build it.
What are the best tips for expert sudoku?
Pencil candidates into most of the grid before placing anything, then look for structure: two cells in a unit sharing the same two candidates, or a candidate confined to a single line within a box. Placements come out of the structure, a few at a time.
Do expert sudoku puzzles require guessing?
No. Every grid here has one solution reachable by logic. Expert means the chain of deductions is long, not that it is broken.
Should I print expert puzzles rather than play online?
Many people do. Pencil marks are faster on paper at this level, and the printed PDF includes the solution on page two so you can check without giving the grid away early.