Sudoku Puzzles - Free Printable - Free Printable

Let's solve this Sudoku puzzle step by step.

---

🔍 Understanding the Puzzle

This is a standard 9×9 Sudoku grid, with some numbers already filled in. The goal is to fill in the empty cells so that:

- Each row contains digits 1–9 without repetition.
- Each column contains digits 1–9 without repetition.
- Each of the nine 3×3 subgrids (also called "boxes") contains digits 1–9 without repetition.

We’ll solve it logically using techniques like naked singles, hidden singles, and elimination.

---

🧩 Step 1: Label the Grid

We'll refer to rows as R1 to R9 (top to bottom), and columns as C1 to C9 (left to right). Each 3×3 box is numbered from top-left to bottom-right:

```
Box 1: R1-3, C1-3
Box 2: R1-3, C4-6
Box 3: R1-3, C7-9
...
Box 9: R7-9, C7-9
```

Here’s the initial grid:

```
R1: 3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
R2: 8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _
R3: _ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _
------+-------+------
R4: 9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
R5: _ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _
R6: 2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _
------+-------+------
R7: _ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _
R8: 1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
R9: _ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _
```

Let’s go through the grid and fill in what we can.

---

✔ Step 2: Start Solving

#### 🔹 Box 1 (Top-left): R1-3, C1-3

Current:
```
3 _ 1
8 _ 5
_ 9 7
```

Missing numbers: 2, 4, 6

Check possible positions:

- C1: has 3, 8 → missing 1,2,4,5,6,7,9 → but only 2,4,6 are missing in box.
- C2: has _, _, 9 → needs 2,4,6
- C3: has 1,5,7 → needs 2,3,4,6,8,9 → but only 2,4,6 available in box.

Let’s look at R1C2: cannot be 3,1 → must be from {2,4,6}

But check column C2:
- C2: R1: ?, R2: ?, R3: 9, R4: 6, R5: 2, R6: ?, R7: ?, R8: 6, R9: ?
→ Wait! R4C2 = 6, R5C2 = 2 → so C2 already has 6 and 2 → so R1C2 cannot be 6 or 2 → must be 4

✔ So R1C2 = 4

Now update:
- R1: 3 4 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
- Box 1: now has 3,4,1,8,5,9,7 → missing 2,6

Now R2C2: must be one of 2,6 — but C2 already has 4,6,2 → wait: R5C2=2, R4C2=6 → so C2 has 2,4,6 → so R2C2 cannot be 2 or 6? But earlier we said box 1 missing 2 and 6...

Wait — contradiction?

Hold on: let’s list C2 values:

- R1C2: ?
- R2C2: ?
- R3C2: 9
- R4C2: 6
- R5C2: 2
- R6C2: ?
- R7C2: ?
- R8C2: 6 → Wait! R8C2 = 6? No — R8: 1 6 _ → so R8C2 = 6 → yes.

So C2 has:
- R4C2 = 6
- R5C2 = 2
- R8C2 = 6 → duplicate? No, same column → can't have two 6s!

Wait — R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → same column → invalid unless they’re different rows.

But both are in C2, so if R4C2 = 6 and R8C2 = 6 → that’s fine only if they're not same row — but same column → duplicate 6 in column 2 → but that can’t happen.

Wait — no: R4C2 = 6 (from R4: 9 6 _ → yes)

R8C2 = 6 (from R8: 1 6 _ → yes)

So C2 has two 6s: R4C2 and R8C2 → invalid?

No — wait, that would mean the puzzle is invalid? But it’s from a reputable site.

Wait — let me double-check the original image.

Original:

```
Row 4: 9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
Row 8: 1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
```

Yes — R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → both in column 2 → two 6s in column 2 → impossible.

But that can't be — unless I misread.

Wait — is there a typo?

Let me recheck the original grid carefully.

From your image:

```
3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _
_ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _
------+-------+------
9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
_ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _
2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _
------+-------+------
_ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _
1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
_ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _
```

Yes — R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → both in column 2 → duplicate 6 → invalid Sudoku

But that can’t be — maybe I misread.

Wait — R4: 9 6 _ → so C2 → R4C2 = 6

R8: 1 6 _ → so R8C2 = 6

Yes — both in column 2 → conflict

But the puzzle is labeled “EASY” and from a website — likely correct.

Wait — could it be that R8C2 is not 6? Let's look again.

"1 6 _" → first number is 1, second is 6 → so yes, R8C2 = 6

So C2 has:
- R1C2: ?
- R2C2: ?
- R3C2: 9
- R4C2: 6
- R5C2: 2
- R6C2: ?
- R7C2: ?
- R8C2: 6 ← another 6
- R9C2: ?

So two 6s in column 2 → impossible

Unless... wait — is it possible that R8C2 is not 6? Maybe I misread the image.

Wait — perhaps the second digit in row 8 is not 6, but something else?

Let me re-express the grid carefully from your image:

You wrote:

```
3 1 2 6 5
8 5 7
9 7 2 8
9 6 4 2 1 3
9 8 4
2 3 8
2 8 5
7 1 4 6
1 6 7 8 3
```

Wait — let's align properly.

Actually, here's the full grid from your image:

```
Row 1: 3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
Row 2: 8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _
Row 3: _ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _
Row 4: 9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
Row 5: _ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _
Row 6: 2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _
Row 7: _ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _
Row 8: 1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
Row 9: _ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _
```

Yes — R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → both in column 2 → duplicate

But this is impossible in valid Sudoku.

Wait — unless the puzzle has a typo?

But let's double-check: is R8C2 really 6?

Row 8: "1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3"

Yes — second cell is 6.

R4C2: "9 6 _" → second cell is 6.

So C2 has two 6s → invalid

But perhaps I made a mistake in reading the grid?

Wait — maybe the first row is:

"3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _" → okay

Row 2: "8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _" → okay

Row 3: "_ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _" → okay

Row 4: "9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4" → R4C2 = 6

Row 5: "_ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _" → R5C2 = 2

Row 6: "2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _" → R6C2 = ?

Row 7: "_ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _" → R7C2 = ?

Row 8: "1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3" → R8C2 = 6

Row 9: "_ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _"

So C2: R1: ?, R2: ?, R3: 9, R4: 6, R5: 2, R6: ?, R7: ?, R8: 6, R9: ?

So R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → same column → two 6s → invalid

But that can't be — unless the puzzle is corrupted.

Wait — maybe R8C2 is not 6? Let's look at the image again.

You said: "I uploaded an image", but I can't see it. You provided text.

Perhaps you copied the grid incorrectly.

Wait — in Row 8: "1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3"

That means:
- C1: 1
- C2: 6
- C3: ?
- C4: ?
- C5: 7
- C6: 8
- C7: ?
- C8: ?
- C9: 3

So R8C2 = 6

R4C2 = 6

Same column → conflict.

Unless... is it possible that R4C2 is not 6?

Row 4: "9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4"

So C1: 9, C2: 6, C3: ?, etc.

Yes.

So unless the puzzle has a typo, it's unsolvable.

But let's assume it's correct — maybe I'm missing something.

Wait — perhaps R8C2 is not 6, but the digit is not 6? Or maybe it's something else?

Wait — perhaps the second digit in row 8 is not 6, but the first digit is 1, second is 6 — so it is 6.

Alternatively, maybe the puzzle is from a source where the grid is misprinted.

But let's try to continue — perhaps it's a typo, and R8C2 is supposed to be something else?

Wait — maybe R8C2 is 4 or 5? But it says "1 6 _"

Alternatively, maybe R4C2 is not 6 — but it says "9 6 _"

Another idea: perhaps the last digit in row 4 is not 4, but it's written as "_ _ 4" — so R4C9 = 4

But that's fine.

Wait — let's check C9:

- R1C9: ?
- R2C9: ?
- R3C9: 8
- R4C9: 4
- R5C9: 8 → R5: _ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _ → so R5C9 = 8
- R6C9: ?
- R7C9: ?
- R8C9: 3
- R9C9: ?

So C9 has: R3=8, R4=4, R5=8 → two 8s → another duplicate!

R3C9 = 8, R5C9 = 8 → both in column 9 → duplicate 8

Oh no! So C9 has two 8s → R3C9 = 8, R5C9 = 8 → invalid

So the puzzle has multiple duplicates — R3C9 = 8, R5C9 = 8 → same column → invalid

And R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → same column → invalid

So the puzzle as given is invalid.

But that can't be — maybe I misread.

Let me recheck the original text you provided.

You wrote:

```
3 1 2 6 5
8 5 7
9 7 2 8
9 6 4 2 1 3
9 8 4
2 3 8
2 8 5
7 1 4 6
1 6 7 8 3
```

Wait — this is not formatted correctly.

Let me reconstruct based on your input:

You said:

```
3 1 2 6 5
8 5 7
9 7 2 8
9 6 4 2 1 3
9 8 4
2 3 8
2 8 5
7 1 4 6
1 6 7 8 3
```

But this is messy.

Let’s assume the intended grid is:

```
Row 1: 3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
Row 2: 8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _
Row 3: _ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _
Row 4: 9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
Row 5: _ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _
Row 6: 2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _
Row 7: _ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _
Row 8: 1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
Row 9: _ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _
```

But then:

- C2: R4=6, R8=6 → duplicate
- C9: R3=8, R5=8 → duplicate

So the puzzle is invalid.

But perhaps there's a typo in your transcription.

Wait — maybe R5C9 is not 8, but let's look:

Row 5: "_ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _" → so C9 is last cell → R5C9 = ? → not necessarily 8

Wait — it says: "_ 8 _" in the third block → so R5C7=?, R5C8=8, R5C9=?

So R5C8 = 8, not R5C9.

Ah! Here's the mistake.

Let me parse each row carefully.

✔ Correct Parsing of the Grid

Each row has 9 cells, divided into three blocks of 3.

Given:

```
Row 1: 3 _ 1 | 2 6 5 | _ _ _
Row 2: 8 _ 5 | _ _ _ | _ 7 _
Row 3: _ 9 7 | 2 1 3 | _ 8 _
Row 4: 9 6 _ | 4 _ 8 | _ _ 4
Row 5: _ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _
Row 6: 2 _ _ | 8 5 _ | _ _ _
Row 7: _ _ 7 | 1 _ _ | 4 6 _
Row 8: 1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3
Row 9: _ _ _ | _ _ _ | _ _ _
```

Now let’s extract each cell:

| R\C | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | |
| 2 | 8 | | 5 | | | | | 7 | |
| 3 | | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | | 8 | |
| 4 | 9 | 6 | | 4 | | 8 | | | 4 |
| 5 | | 2 | 3 | | 9 | | | 8 | |
| 6 | 2 | | | 8 | 5 | | | | |
| 7 | | | 7 | 1 | | | 4 | 6 | |
| 8 | 1 | 6 | | | 7 | 8 | | | 3 |
| 9 | | | | | | | | | |

Now check C2:
- R1C2: ?
- R2C2: ?
- R3C2: 9
- R4C2: 6
- R5C2: 2
- R6C2: ?
- R7C2: ?
- R8C2: 6 → oh no! R4C2 = 6, R8C2 = 6 → same column → duplicate

Still problem.

But wait — is R8C2 really 6?

Row 8: "1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3" → so C1=1, C2=6, C3=?, C4=?, C5=7, C6=8, C7=?, C8=?, C9=3

Yes → R8C2 = 6

R4C2 = 6 → both in C2 → invalid

Similarly, C9:
- R1C9: ?
- R2C9: ?
- R3C9: 8
- R4C9: 4
- R5C9: ?
- R6C9: ?
- R7C9: ?
- R8C9: 3
- R9C9: ?

Only R3C9 = 8, others unknown → no duplicate yet.

But earlier I thought R5C9 = 8, but it's R5C8 = 8.

R5: "_ 2 3 | _ 9 _ | _ 8 _" → so R5C8 = 8

So C8 has:
- R2C8: 7
- R5C8: 8
- R8C8: ?
- R9C8: ?

No duplicate.

But C2 has two 6s: R4C2 and R8C2 → invalid

Unless the puzzle is misprinted.

But let's check if R8C2 is not 6 — maybe it's 4 or something else?

Wait — perhaps in the original image, R8C2 is not 6.

Maybe it's a different number.

Alternatively, maybe R4C2 is not 6 — but it says "9 6 _"

Another possibility: the second digit in row 4 is not 6, but the first is 9, second is 6 — so it is 6.

Perhaps the puzzle has a typo.

But let's assume it's correct and see if there's a way around.

Wait — maybe I misread R8.

"1 6 _ | _ 7 8 | _ _ 3"

Yes.

Perhaps the intended value is R8C2 = 4 or R4C2 = 2?

But as given, it's invalid.

Alternatively, maybe the puzzle is from a source where the grid is:

Let me search for "SUDOKU.EASY 10" and see if it's a known puzzle.

But since I can't access external links, let's assume that your transcription is correct, and the puzzle has a typo.

But perhaps R8C2 is not 6 — maybe it's a blank?

But you wrote "1 6 _" — so it's filled.

Wait — perhaps the second digit in row 8 is not 6, but the number is 1, then blank, then something?

No — you wrote "1 6 _" — so second is 6.

Given the conflict, I suspect a typo in the puzzle.

But let's suppose that R8C2 is actually 4, not 6 — then it might work.

Or perhaps R4C2 is 2, not 6.

But as given, it's inconsistent.

Alternatively, maybe R4C2 is 6, and R8C2 is not 6, but you wrote it wrong.

Wait — perhaps in row 8, it's "1 _ _" not "1 6 _"?

But you wrote "1 6 _".

Given the information, I must conclude that the puzzle as given has duplicate 6s in column 2, so it's unsolvable.

But let's try to ignore that and see if there's a way.

Wait — maybe I miscalculated.

Let me list C2 again:

- R1C2: ?
- R2C2: ?
- R3C2: 9
- R4C2: 6
- R5C2: 2
- R6C2: ?
- R7C2: ?
- R8C2: 6 → duplicate!
- R9C2: ?

So two 6s in C2 → impossible.

Therefore, the puzzle is invalid.

But perhaps you meant to write a different number.

For example, if R8C2 is 4, then it might work.

Or if R4C2 is 2, but it's already 6.

Alternatively, maybe the puzzle is:

Look at the website: www.AllFreePrintable.com — maybe it's a known puzzle.

But without access, I can't verify.

Given the constraints, I think there's a typo.

But let's assume that R8C2 is not 6, and it's blank, and you wrote "1 6 _" by mistake.

But you clearly said "1 6 _".

Alternatively, perhaps R4C2 is not 6, but the number is 9 2 _ or something.

But as per your text, it's "9 6 _".

Given the conflict, I must say: the puzzle as given is invalid due to duplicate 6s in column 2 and possibly other issues.

But let's try to solve it assuming R8C2 is not 6, or that it's a typo.

Perhaps the intended puzzle is:

Let me try to find a similar easy sudoku.

Alternatively, let's assume that R8C2 is 4, and proceed.

But without correction, I can't solve it.

✔ Conclusion

The given Sudoku puzzle contains duplicate numbers in column 2 (two 6s) and possibly in other places, making it invalid.

Specifically:
- R4C2 = 6
- R8C2 = 6
→ Both in column 2 → violates Sudoku rules.

Therefore, the puzzle cannot be solved as given.

Please double-check the original image for accuracy, especially in row 4 and row 8.

If you can provide a corrected version, I’d be happy to solve it.

Otherwise, the puzzle is unsolvable due to duplicate entries.