The sudoku puzzles published in newspapers or magazines can usually be solved by using Direct Elimination Techniques no matter how difficult these puzzles are. Unlike using Candidates Elimination Techniques, you don't need to fill in each blank cell of the puzzle grid with all possible candidates. All you need is a pen and some ability of logical analysis. Then you can fill out all blank cells one by one correctly. It is not as powerful as Candidates Elimination Techniques, but Direct Elimination Techniques is your only choice if you want to fully experience the happiness and joy of solving sudoku puzzles.

Direct Elimination Techniques has the following features:

• Easy to use. Every one, even a sudoku novice, can use this type of techniques as soon as he starts to solve the puzzle.
• No candidates required. A pen is enough for solving puzzles on paper. Usually no guess is involved since it only requires logic analysis to determine which number is placed in which cell or which cell is to be placed with which number.
• Easy to master. All techniques in Direct Elimination Techniques can be quickly mastered and put into practice.
• Relatively simple. Compared to Candidates Elimination Techniques, the techniques in Direct Elimination Techniques are simpler. As a result, it can only be used to solve relatively simple puzzles.

Commonly used techniques in Direct Elimination Techniques include:

• Sole Position Technique
• Basic Elimination Technique
• Block Elimination Technique
• Sole Number Technique
• Combination Elimination Technique
• Rectangle Elimination Technique

See Also:

• What is Sudoku: rules, history and terminology
• Sudoku Strategies
• Candidates Elimination Techniques