Techniques · killer sudoku

Remote Pairs

A chain of cells that all hold the same pair alternates between the two digits. Cells that see both ends of an odd-length link cannot hold either digit.

In the walkthroughs, every Remote Pairs step shades the cells of the pattern and names the cell and digit it proves, so you can see the move on the grid rather than read about it. Press “Skip to next hard step” to jump straight to it.

Worked examples

Puzzles from the books where Remote Pairs is used, those where it is the key technique first. Each link opens the full step-by-step solution.

Extreme Killer Sudoku 1 (70 of 150 puzzles)

• Puzzle 1 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 3 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 9 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 23 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 26 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 27 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 28 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 34 · Expert 2 · key technique

Extreme Killer Sudoku 2 (65 of 150 puzzles)

• Puzzle 2 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 4 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 13 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 17 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 21 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 23 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 34 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 40 · Expert 2 · key technique

Extreme Killer Sudoku 3 (86 of 150 puzzles)

• Puzzle 1 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 2 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 5 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 7 · Expert 2 · key technique
• Puzzle 9 · Expert 4 · key technique
• Puzzle 10 · Expert 4 · key technique
• Puzzle 11 · Expert 3 · key technique
• Puzzle 12 · Expert 3 · key technique

Where it sits

See the whole ladder on hard killer sudoku techniques, or look a puzzle up by number under solutions.