The only difference between a regular Sudoku and a Wordoku is that letters are used instead of numbers. The same concept is used in solving both.
Here is an simple example of how to solve a Sudoku puzzle.
Because this example is a 4x4 puzzle, there must be the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 in each row, column, and 2x2 grid.
Notice that the top row shows the numbers 1 and 4. The two blank spaces are then obviously 2 and 3, in some order. Notice the left blank's column. There is a 3 there, so the number 3 can not go in that left blank space, it must therefore be a
2. Thus, the other blank space is a
3.
Now notice the upper right grid. It subsequently has the numbers 1, 3, and 4. Since it is missing a 2, fill in that blank with a
2.
At this time, look at the 2nd column down. It has a 2 and a 3, so it is missing a 1 and a 4. In the lower space, there is a 4 in that row (or lower left grid), so that space is a
1. Consequently, a
4 goes in the upper space.
By either checking the upper left grid or the 2nd row, that blank space is obviously a
3.
As a result, the remaining first column space is evidently a
2.
The 4th column shows a 2 and a 4, so the other spaces are a 1 and a 3 in some order. The bottom row has a 1, so the bottom space is a
3 and the one above it is a
1.
Finally, the last two spaces are a 2 and a 4 in some order. It is now apparent that a
2 goes in the bottom space and the one above it is a
4.
(While following the example given for this puzzle, you may have noticed other ways to progress. This puzzle can be solved via many different sequences; it is up to you to choose which order to do so. There is no correct order as the answer will still remain the same.)
In addition to basic checking of each of the rows, columns, and 3x3 grids, there are times when using letters you know to be in a group may help you solve other letters. For Example, say that there is a row, where there are three blanks all in one 3x3 grid, and that grid is missing two more numbers. Then you know what the other two numbers are, in some order. So in the example below, 4, 5, and 6 are missing in the top middle row. But that middle grid is also missing an 8 and a 9. Having an
8 in that bottom row means that in that middle 3x3 grid, the
9 is the bottom right number while the
8 is the middle right number.
There are times when determining that a letter which goes in one column or row in a 3x3 grid, can help you ascertain the placement of that letter in another column or row in a different 3x3 grid. For example, looking at the illustration below, one might think that nothing can be solved, but it can. See the
5 in the third row? Checking the third 3x3 grid, it is obvious that a 5 goes in its first column, in one of the top two spaces. Knowing this information and noticing the 5 in the 5th row / 8th column, it is obvious that a
5 goes in the 7th row / 9th column.
Similarly, if a number evidently goes somewhere in two columns in both of two nearby grids, as
2 and
5 show below, the remaining column on the remaining grid, are where the
2 and the
5 go in that column. In this example, because there is a
2 in the 7th row / 2nd column, this means that the
5 goes in the 7th row / 9th column and the
2 goes in the 8th row / 9th column.
Another way to view the example below, is to notice that the 9th column is missing a 1, 2, 4, and 5. Neither of the top two blank spaces can be either 2 or 5, so they must be
1 and
4, in some order. Thus the bottom two blank spaces must be 2 and 5, in some order. Furthermore, because there is a
2 in the 7th row / 2nd column, this means that the
5 goes in the 7th row / 9th column and the
2 goes in the 8th row / 9th column.
In addition, one may find that checking an overlapped corner part of the puzzle using
both 9x9 sections of the puzzle, may deduce a letter.
* Do
not assume that there is only one of each letter in any part of the puzzle which isn't part of one of the five 9x9 grids. For example, looking at the entire puzzle, look at row nine. Columns one through nine, seven through fifteen, and thirteen through twenty one, will each show a letter only once, but columns four through twelve do not follow the same rules as they are not part of one 9x9 grid.
To find the clue word(s), read each row across and each column down, trying to find [a] word(s). You may find a few words in the puzzle, but the one related to this Elements puzzle is the one which somewhat fits the [Elements] clue. Keep in mind that the word doesn't necessarily use all nine letters.
