Many people have asked me for step-by-step Sudoku directions for solving XY-Wing example number 1.

If you have been puzzled about how I solved this puzzle, read this article.

It seems that some people have found it difficult to get to the starting point to apply the XY-Wing technique as shown in the graphic. Here is one way to arrive at the starting point.

Sudoku XY-Wing Puzzle

Sudoku Directions

Cell
Action
Reason or Pattern
R7C7
Enter a 3
Naked Single
R7C9
Enter a 4
Naked Single
R1C9
Enter a 6
Hidden Single
R2C5
Enter a 6
Hidden Single
R2C2
Enter a 5
Hidden Single
R2C1
Enter a 4
Hidden Single
R9C2
Enter a 4
Hidden Single
R4C5
Enter a 3
Hidden Single
R4C4
Enter a 5
Hidden Single
R1C4
Enter a 8
Naked Single
R1C6
Enter a 4
Naked Single
R1C5
Enter a 5
Naked Single
R5C5
Enter a 4
Hidden Single
R6C5
Enter a 7
Hidden Single
R6C9
Enter a 5
Naked Single
R9C8
Enter a 5
Hidden Single
R6C4
Enter a 2
Hidden Single
R5C4
Enter a 9
Naked Single
R9C4
Enter a 6
Naked Single
R9C6
Enter a 9
Hidden Single
R9C9
Enter a 7
Naked Single
R5C9
Enter a 3
Naked Single
R8C9
Enter a 9
Naked Single
R8C3
Enter a 7
Hidden Single
R8C2
Enter a 6
Hidden Single
R9C7
Remove the 8
Naked Pair (3,8) in R9C1, R9C3
R1C7, R1C8
Remove all the 2s
Locked Candidates (2) in R1C1, R1C2
R4C1, R5C1, R6C3
Remove all the 8s
Locked Candidates (8) in Column 2 (R4C2, R5C2)

Now we have arrived at the starting point to apply the XY-Wing technique as explained in my article “Sudoku XY-Wing Solves Difficult Sudoku Puzzles”.

From this point onward, you can follow the remaining steps discussed in the article.