Naked Pairs and Triples: Practical Guide
Sudoku a Day Blog
Naked Pairs and Naked Triples are two of the most useful mid-level Sudoku strategies. If you already know singles, these patterns help you keep moving when the grid stalls.
Quick refresher: candidates
These methods use candidate notes. If you need the basics first, start with the Sudoku strategies hub.
Naked Pairs (2 cells, same 2 candidates)
A Naked Pair appears when two cells in the same row, column, or box contain exactly the same two candidates (for example, {2,8} and {2,8}).
Because those two digits must occupy those two cells, no other cell in that unit can contain 2 or 8. Eliminate them from the rest of the unit.
Naked Triples (3 cells, same 3-candidate set)
A Naked Triple appears when three cells in one unit collectively contain exactly three digits (for example 1,4,9 across three cells). The cells may be arranged as {1,4}, {1,9}, {4,9} or similar.
Those three digits are locked into those three cells, so you can remove them from every other cell in that same unit.
How to spot them faster
- Scan units with many pencil marks first.
- Look for repeated candidate sets before trying complex chains.
- After each elimination, rescan for singles and hidden singles.
When this matters most
Naked Pairs/Triples show up often in hard Sudoku and become essential in expert Sudoku, where basic singles are not enough.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not eliminate candidates outside the affected unit. A pair/triple in one row does not automatically affect other rows unless they share the same box/column relationship.
Practice path
Try this progression:
- Practice Naked Pairs in medium/hard puzzles.
- Add Naked Triples once pair detection feels automatic.
- Combine with box-line logic for faster breakthroughs.
Want more? Browse the full strategy collection and apply these techniques to today’s puzzle.