Hidden Pair

Medium

What is it?

A Hidden Pair occurs when two values appear as candidates in exactly two cells of a unit, and nowhere else in that unit. Those two cells must contain those two values, so all other candidates can be removed from those cells.

When to use it

For each unit, count how many cells contain each candidate value. If two values each appear in exactly the same two cells, you have a Hidden Pair.

Why it works

Since those two values can only go in those two cells, the cells are fully determined by them. Any other candidates in those cells are impossible and can be eliminated.

Interactive Demo

9
3
4
8
3
6
5
7
8
4
136
12467
1237
1569
13569
1569
1269
123679
12379
8
4
2
5
4
6
2
3
4

Let's find a Hidden Pair in row 5. Every cell in this row is empty, and each has multiple candidates.

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