Solving Sudoku Puzzles - Moving From Paper to Online

In an ever-increasing move from the tangible to the electronic, it is not surprising that some of our favorite puzzles are also making the transition. Sudoku puzzle-makers have found a new audience for their popular puzzles by providing them online. There are now a plethora of sites that offer Sudoku puzzles: from the standard 9x9 grid to massive grids like 16x16 to grids that have "boxes" that cut around corners. Many of us have our methods polished and perfected when we sit down with our paper and pencil puzzle, but solving the same puzzle on a computer screen can be much more difficult.

When you find a Sudoku puzzle to solve online, the same general solving techniques apply that you use on paper. Some people have a harder time scanning and seeing numbers and solutions on a computer screen after solving paper puzzles. That difficulty will ease after practice. If you're used to using your finger or pencil to "trace" the number paths for eliminations, try using the eraser end of a pencil; but you will become more efficient if you can use the mouse pointer. And even more efficient by just using your eyes. Many sites will allow you to make your normal pencil marks by typing or selecting multiple numbers in the cell. You then go back and erase or remove the extra markings, just like solving the paper and pencil puzzles.

Now that you have grown accustomed to solving Sudoku puzzles on the computer, the next step is to increase your speed. Many sites have a personal and site leaderboard where the fastest times are recorded. Some sites even allow you to compete against other players head-to-head. In order to succeed on these sites, you'll need to solve your puzzle quickly. There are a few easy tips you can follow to quickly improve your times.

1. Be confident in your answer. When you place a number in a cell, do not go back and second-guess your choice. This wastes valuable time. If you only place numbers that you are 100% on, then there is no reason to double-check your placement.
2. Learn to use the Number Pad (10-key). Using the number pad is much faster than using the numbers above the letters. By using the number pad, you will not have to hunt across the keyboard looking for the correct number. Furthermore, the number pad only takes one hand, so your other hand can be used to guide the mouse to each cell. Using these in conjunction will increase your solving efficiency.
3. Make sure you can see the whole puzzle at once. This may seem obvious, but if you are using a small window or computer screen, you cannot see the whole puzzle at the same time. This slows you down because you have to keep scrolling for nearly every cell. Seeing the whole puzzle will easily improve your time over a scrolling method.
4. Keep practicing. The more you practice, the better you will become. You will train your eyes and mind to quickly locate the patterns that lead to specific solutions. If you are on a site that has various difficulty levels, try doing a couple of harder puzzles in a row. After that, drop down a level and you should see a great increase in your solving skill and time compared to if you had just started at that level. If nothing else, it will be a boost to your confidence, especially in a competitive environment.

By transitioning from a piece of paper to the screen of a computer, you can open a whole new realm of Sudoku puzzles and competitions. Use these tips to aid your endeavor.