How Sudoku works
Mini Sudoku uses a six by six grid divided into two-by-three boxes, with the digits one to six. Every row, every column and every box holds each digit exactly once, the same rule as the full puzzle in a smaller frame.
The smaller grid changes the feel more than you would expect. With only six candidates per cell, scanning resolves most positions and the advanced techniques that hard nine by nine grids demand rarely come up. What remains is a puzzle you can finish in a few minutes rather than half an hour.
It is the right size for a quick break, and the right place to learn the scanning habit before moving up. Most people finish an easy mini in two to four minutes, against seven to ten for a full easy grid.
Mini Sudoku 6x6 at a glance
| Mini 6×6 | |
|---|---|
| Grid | 6 × 6 |
| Boxes | 2 × 3 |
| Digits | 1 to 6 |
| Easy clues | 20 of 36 |
| Typical time | 2 – 4 minutes |
How to solve faster
- Work one digit at a time, not one cell at a time. Pick the digit already appearing most often on the board and place every remaining instance before touching another. On a 45-clue grid this alone solves most of the puzzle, and it is several times faster than examining cells individually.
- Start with the fullest box. Whichever three by three box has the most clues will resolve first and open its neighbours. Working outward from density beats working left to right.
- Skip pencil notes entirely at this level. If you find yourself writing candidate lists on an easy grid, you are scanning wrong rather than facing a hard puzzle. Switch to digit-by-digit scanning and the notes become unnecessary.
Frequently asked questions
How is mini Sudoku different from the full puzzle?
Six by six instead of nine by nine, with two-by-three boxes and the digits one to six. The rule is identical: every digit once per row, column and box.
Is 6x6 Sudoku easier?
Considerably. With only six candidates per cell, scanning resolves most positions and the advanced techniques a hard nine by nine needs almost never come up.
How long should a mini take?
Two to four minutes on easy, against seven to ten for a full easy grid. Under ninety seconds is quick.
Is every mini puzzle solvable by logic?
Yes. The generator checks after each clue removal that exactly one solution remains, the same guarantee as the full-size puzzles.