Kakuro Help
Rules / Objectives Summary
- Every square contains a number from 1 to 9.
- You have a collection of across and down clues that tell you what the answers to each clue add up to.
- A number cannot appear twice in any combination for a clue.
- For example, a clue of 11 for two squares could be 2 + 9, 3 + 8, 4 + 7 or 5 + 6 (in some order).
- For example, a clue of 8 for two squares could not be 4 + 4.
- Hover over a clue to see possible combinations.
See the Walkthrough or Clue Combinations for extra tips and tricks.
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What are the numbers for?
These are the clues, both across and down. The answers to which will add up to the clue.
For example, a clue of 9 for three squares might be 1 + 2 + 6, or 1 + 3 + 5, or 2 + 3 + 4 (in some order).
Move your mouse over the puzzle to see the answer.
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Notes
Some clues only have one possible combination (but you might not know which number goes where). For example a clue of 17 for two squares can only be 8 + 9.
Walkthrough
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Step 1
This is the bottom corner of a much larger puzzle, which will demonstrate some of the techniques you can use.
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Step 2
A 23 clue for three squares can only be <6,8,9> and a 16 clue for two squares can only be <7,9>. Which means the shaded square must be <9>.
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Step 3
Which means that this square is <7>.
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Step 4
A 17 clue for two squares can only be <8,9>, but as we've already a <9> in the first column, the <8> must be on the left, and the <9> on the right.
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Step 5
This means each of these squares is determined by the missing number making their clue correct.
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Step 6
The 30 clue for four squares can only be <6,7,8,9> but we don't know which way around. We do know where the <6> and <8> are, so we can enter both other numbers as pencil marks.
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Step 7
We can also enter the pencil marks for the other 30 clue.
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Step 8
We can also enter the pencil marks for the 17 clue.
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Step 9
We can also enter the pencil marks for these two clues.
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Step 10
There is only one place where the <8> can go for the 24 clue.
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Step 11
This square can no longer be <8>, so it must be <9>.
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Step 12
Knowing the <9> cascades other squares. We remove <9> from the <7,9> leaving <7>. This allows us to remove the <7> and so on.
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Step 13
This completes the corner we're working on. These techniques are used around the whole of the puzzle until it completes.
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