Naked Pairs
Learn naked pairs: two cells in a unit sharing the same two candidates let you remove those digits from every other cell of the unit.
A naked pair is two cells in the same unit that each hold exactly the same two candidates, say {3, 7}. Between them, those two cells must use up 3 and 7, so neither digit can appear anywhere else in that unit.
That lets you strike 3 and 7 from every other cell of the row, column or box, often triggering new singles.
Naked triples extend the idea to three cells sharing three candidates. Below, the two highlighted cells share a pair that then gets cleared from the rest of their unit.
Practise the Naked pair
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 naked pair?
Two cells in one unit with the identical two candidates. Those digits are reserved for the pair, so they can be removed from the rest of the unit.
Do the two cells need the exact same candidates?
Yes — both cells must show exactly the same two candidates and nothing else for it to be a naked pair.
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