Ready to put the XY-Wing technique into action? This page is designed for you to practice and master XY-Wing patterns with real Sudoku puzzles.
Every board above is a position from a real puzzle where the XY-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 XY-Wing?
An XY-Wing is a pattern formed by three bi-value cells (cells with exactly two candidates each) that are linked in a specific way. When you spot an XY-Wing, you can eliminate a candidate from other cells that see both “wings.”
Want a full step-by-step guide? Read the XY-Wing technique article
How to Practice
- Scan the grid for three bi-value cells that form an XY-Wing pattern.
- Eliminate the shared candidate from any cell that can see both “wings.”
- On the board, tap each of those candidates to remove it.
- 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 XY-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.