Hints

A hint is always a real technique, found the way the original HoDoKu finds it: the solver tries the techniques from easiest to hardest and reports the first step it finds.

Reading a hint

• The name and a one-line explanation of the technique, with a link to its guide.
• A summary of the step, for example 1 goes in r1c2. Cells are written rXcY: row X, column Y.
• On the board, a legend in the panel explains the colours: key candidates (the pattern), cover candidates, fins, candidates that are removed (red, struck through) and values that are placed (green).
• For chains and loops, lines join the candidates: solid for strong links, dashed for weak links.

Apply step (Enter) places the value or removes the candidates. Dismiss (Esc) hides the hint. Next hint asks for another step from the current position.

Hints use

This setting limits how hard a hint may be: Singles only, Up to Easy, Medium, Hard, Unfair, or Everything. A puzzle that needs more than the limit allows gets the answer that no such step exists, which is a useful result in itself.

All steps

The All steps tab lists every step available right now, grouped by technique with counts. Select the steps you want and choose Apply selected, or Refresh after you have changed the board.