Practice X-Wing Sudoku Technique

Ready to put the X-Wing technique into action? This page is designed for you to practice and master X-Wing patterns with real Sudoku puzzles.

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Every board above is a position from a real puzzle where the X-Wing is the next step. Tap the candidates it removes (or select a cell and press the digit) and press Check. If you’re stuck, Show me gives the answer and Next puzzle loads another. Want to watch one first? Switch to Worked example.


Quick Reminder: What is an X-Wing?

An X-Wing occurs when a candidate number appears in exactly two cells in two different rows (or columns), and those cells line up in the same columns (or rows). When you spot an X-Wing, you can eliminate that candidate from all other cells in those columns (or rows).

Want a full step-by-step guide? Read the X-Wing technique article


How to Practice

  1. Scan the grid for a candidate that appears in exactly two cells in two different rows (or columns), aligned in the same columns (or rows).
  2. Eliminate that candidate from all other cells in those columns (or rows).
  3. On the board, tap each of those candidates to remove it.
  4. Press Check. On your first try you see how many you found; on the second, the ones you missed get a dashed ring.

Start Practicing on Full Puzzles

Once you can find the X-Wing on most boards without pressing Show me, take it into a full game. Expert puzzles are where this technique starts to come up, and the step-by-step solver will name the technique each time you get stuck.

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