Sudoku HowTo

Box Claim or Row Column Claims

If all possible candidate locations for a value in a box are contained in a single row, that box can be said to claim the value. All candidate instances of the value in the row that are not in the box can be removed.

This same process can be applied to a value in a box that is contained in a single column.
Box Claim. The example shown in Figure 1 shows all candidate instances of the value 1 in box 1 contained in row 1.

The value 1 has to be placed in one of the blue cells in box 1 so it cannot be placed anywhere else in row 1.

Any instances of the value 1 in row 1 that are not in box 1 can be removed.
Box Claim. The example shown in Figure 2 shows all candidate instances of the value 4 in box 7 contained in column 3.

The value 4 has to be placed in one of the blue cells in box 7 so it cannot be placed anywhere else in column 3.

Any instances of the value 4 in column 3 that are not in box 7 can be removed.If all possible candidate locations for a given value in a given row are contained in a single box, that row can be said to claim the given value. All candidate instances of the given value in the box that are not in the given row can be removed.

This same process can be applied to a given value is a given column that is contained in a single box.
Row Claim. The example shown in Figure 3 shows all candidate instances of the value 9 in row 3 contained in box 2.

The value 9 has to be placed in one of the blue cells in row 3 so it cannot be placed anywhere else in box 2.

Any instances of the value 9 in box 2 that are not in row 3 can be removed.
Column Claim. The example shown in Figure 4 shows all candidate instances of the value 7 in column 5 contained in box 2.

The value 7 has to be placed in one of the blue cells in column 5 so it cannot be placed anywhere else in box 2.

Any instances of the value 7 in box 2 that are not in column 5 can be removed.

19 October 2020
by Don
RE: Comments and feedback for claiming

Most people that I know refer to this 'Claiming' method as 'Locked Candidates'.
13 September 2014
by John
RE: Comments and feedback for claiming

Thanks for using the site. Good luck with your Sudoku solving
13 September 2014
by Armando Ramos,London
RE: Comments and feedback for claiming

your examples 1,2 and 3,clearly made me aware of the importance of removals. Many thanks

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This page last updated on March 24, 2015