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Hidden Triples & Quads
Learn hidden triples and quads: three or four digits confined to the same three or four cells of a unit, letting you strip every other candidate from those cells.
A hidden triple is three digits that, within one unit, can only go in the same three cells — even though those cells may also show several other candidates that hide the pattern. Like the hidden pair, the triple is camouflaged among the extra notes.
Once you confirm that three digits live only in three cells, every other candidate in those cells can be deleted, because those cells are reserved for the three digits. A hidden quad extends this to four digits in four cells.
You find hidden triples by scanning digits, not cells: pick three numbers and check whether, together, they only appear in three cells of the unit. The example highlights three cells that exclusively share three digits, with the surplus candidates removed.
Practise the Hidden triple
The best way to learn a technique is to use it. Play a puzzle at the level where it first appears, or drop a tricky board into the solver to watch it in action.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hidden triple?
Three digits in a unit that can only be placed in the same three cells. Those cells must hold the three digits, so all of their other candidates are removed.
Why are hidden triples hard to see?
Because the three cells often still show extra candidates, the pattern is hidden. You have to scan by digit and confirm three numbers share exactly three cells.
Are hidden triples or naked triples more common?
Naked triples are spotted more often because the candidate counts are small. Hidden triples need active digit-scanning, but recognising them unlocks tough boards where naked subsets stall.
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