Free downloadable resource
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Sudoku — Free PDF Download
Everything You Need to Solve Your First Puzzle
Learning Sudoku isn’t hard. But most resources either over-explain it (twenty-minute videos for a three-rule game) or under-explain it (here are the rules, good luck). Neither is helpful when you’re actually sitting in front of a puzzle.
We wrote the guide we wished existed when we started: clear, complete, calm. Ten pages that take you from “I’ve never solved a Sudoku” to “I can finish easy puzzles on my own.” No fluff, no filler, no assumed knowledge.
Download it, read it at your own pace, and come back to it whenever you need a refresher. It’s free.
What’s in the Guide
The Complete Beginner’s Guide covers everything a new solver needs:
Chapter 1 — What Is Sudoku? The three rules explained clearly. What Sudoku is, and what it isn’t (not math, not guessing, not random).
Chapter 2 — Understanding the Grid A full breakdown of cells, rows, columns, boxes, givens, and units. If you’ve ever been confused by puzzle terminology, this clears it up.
Chapter 3 — Where to Start How to approach a fresh puzzle without feeling overwhelmed. Which areas to scan first, how to count what’s missing, and why working outward from filled units is the smartest approach.
Chapter 4 — Pencil Marks The single most useful solving habit for beginners. How to write candidates, when to start, and why pencil marks make everything easier.
Chapter 5 — Four Strategies for Easy Puzzles The techniques that solve every easy Sudoku: - Scanning (Cross-Hatching) - Naked Singles - Hidden Singles - Process of Elimination
Each is explained step-by-step with clear descriptions of when and how to apply it.
Chapter 6 — A Step-by-Step Solve A worked example showing how the four strategies come together to solve part of a real puzzle. Follow along and see the rhythm of a solve.
Chapter 7 — Five Mistakes Every Beginner Makes Guessing, forgetting boxes, skipping pencil marks — common traps and how to avoid them.
Chapter 8 — Building Your Solving Routine A suggested solving flow for consistent results. Plus thoughts on timing, tracking progress, and building the daily habit.
Chapter 9 — Difficulty Levels Explained What Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert actually mean in terms of givens and required strategies. Know what you’re getting into before you level up.
Chapter 10 — What Comes Next Where to go after easy puzzles feel routine. How to learn new strategies one at a time without getting overwhelmed.
Plus a glossary of key terms and a resources section pointing you to our rules page, strategy guides, and free printable puzzles.
Who This Is For
Complete beginners. If you’ve never solved a Sudoku — or tried once, got frustrated, and gave up — this guide is for you. It assumes zero prior knowledge and builds from the ground up.
Returning players. If you played Sudoku years ago and want a refresher, the strategies chapter and solving routine will bring everything back quickly.
Teachers and group leaders. If you run a classroom, puzzle club, senior center, or community group, this guide works as teaching material. Print copies for participants and work through the step-by-step solve together.
Why a PDF?
Because sometimes you want to read without a screen. Print the guide, take it on a flight, keep it next to your puzzle book. Dog-ear the strategy pages. Highlight the mistakes chapter.
A PDF also works offline — on a tablet, phone, or e-reader. No internet required once you’ve downloaded it.
And it’s free. No email gate, no account creation, no newsletter signup. Just the guide.
The Sudoku a Day Approach
We built Sudoku a Day around a simple idea: one calm puzzle a day. No ads, no clutter, no pressure. The same philosophy goes into everything we publish — this guide included.
We believe learning should be straightforward. You don’t need a course to learn Sudoku. You need clear rules, a few good strategies, and a puzzle to practice on. This guide gives you the first two. Our free printable puzzles and daily puzzle on the website give you the third.
From Guide to Daily Practice
The fastest way to improve at Sudoku is to solve one puzzle a day. It doesn’t need to be hard. Consistency matters more than difficulty.
After reading this guide: 1. Try an easy puzzle. Use our free printable packs or play one on the website. 2. Apply the four strategies from Chapter 5. They’re all you need for easy puzzles. 3. Use pencil marks. From day one. It’s a habit that scales with you. 4. Move up when you’re ready. When easy feels routine, try medium. Our strategy cheat sheet covers the techniques you’ll need next.
Free. No email required.
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Keep Learning:
- Sudoku Rules — the three rules, explained on one page
- How to Play Sudoku — interactive step-by-step guide
- Sudoku Strategies — every technique from easy to master, with examples
- Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles — weekly puzzle packs in 5 difficulty levels
Sudoku Beginner Guide FAQ
How long is the guide?
About 10 pages. It’s thorough but focused — no padding. Most people read it in 20–30 minutes.
Is this the same content as your “Sudoku for Beginners” page?
There’s overlap in the rules and strategies, but the PDF is more comprehensive. It includes a full step-by-step solve, a dedicated chapter on pencil marks, a mistakes chapter, and a solving routine — content that goes beyond the web page.
Do I need to read the whole guide before trying a puzzle?
No. Read Chapters 1–3 (rules, grid, where to start), then try an easy puzzle. Come back to the strategies chapter when you get stuck. Learning by doing is encouraged.
Can I share this with students or a puzzle group?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need. We just ask that you keep the Sudoku a Day branding intact and don’t modify the content.
What difficulty level will I be able to solve after reading this?
Easy, comfortably. The four strategies in the guide are all you need for easy Sudoku. Medium puzzles require a couple of additional techniques covered in our strategy cheat sheet and strategy pages.
Is Sudoku good for the brain?
Research suggests that logic puzzles like Sudoku can help with focus, pattern recognition, and working memory. It’s also a genuinely relaxing activity — a calm break from screens and noise.
Do I need the app to use this guide?
No. The guide works with any Sudoku puzzle — paper, website, or app. The Sudoku a Day app is mentioned for its notes mode and daily puzzle, but it’s entirely optional.
Where do I go after this guide?
Download the Strategy Cheat Sheet for a quick reference of intermediate and advanced techniques. Or dive into the full strategy guide on our website for detailed explanations and examples.