Must every cell in a naked triple have three candidates?
No. Two-candidate cells can participate as long as the three cells collectively contain exactly three digits.
Pure Sudoku
Intermediate technique
Naked triples reserve three digits across three cells.
Three cells in one unit that collectively contain only three candidates reserve those digits, allowing you to remove them from every other cell in the unit.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Pattern
- Three cells share exactly three candidates
- Outcome
- Logical progress
Focused example
The highlighted cells reserve 1, 4, and 7; remove them from the fourth cell.
The highlighted cells show the exact scope of the pattern. Read the candidates before making an elimination.
How it works
Apply the pattern in four checks.
- Choose three unsolved cells in one row, column, or box.
- Combine their candidates and verify the union contains exactly three digits.
- Confirm all three cells belong to the same unit.
- Remove those three digits from every other cell in that unit.
Know the difference
Use the pattern only when every condition is true.
A naked triple does not require all three cells to show all three digits. Sets such as {1,4}, {1,7}, and {4,7} still form the triple {1,4,7}.
After the move, re-scan the affected unit for singles before searching for another advanced pattern.
Common mistake
Protect the logic before erasing a candidate.
Apply the elimination only inside the exact shared unit covered by the pattern. Similar-looking candidates elsewhere are not part of the deduction.
If any required condition is missing, leave the candidates in place and continue scanning.
Continue playing
Choose your next Sudoku route.
FAQ
Quick answers before you play.
What does a naked triple eliminate?
It removes the triple’s digits from all other cells in the same unit.
Can a triple span different units?
No. The three cells must share one row, column, or box for the elimination to be valid.
Practice loop
Find it on a live board.
Pause when the board slows down, check the candidate conditions, make one justified move, and scan again.