Hidden Triple

Beginner7 min

Prerequisites: Hidden Pair

Overview

Three candidates confined to exactly three cells within a house. All other candidates can be removed from those cells.

How It Works

If digits X, Y, and Z appear only in cells A, B, and C within a house, those digits must occupy those cells. Any other candidates in A, B, and C can be eliminated.

When To Use It

When three digits in a house are restricted to the same three cells but those cells also contain extra candidates.

How To Detect It

For each house, examine triples of digits. If the union of cells containing those digits has exactly 3 cells, it is a hidden triple.

Visual Example

Step 1 of 9

Three Digits Confined to Three Cells

A Hidden Triple occurs when three digits are collectively confined to the same three cells within a house. Each digit may appear in two or all three of those cells, but nowhere else in the house.

Pattern cells
Affected cells
Eliminations
Key candidates

Practice

A Hidden Triple is hiding here. Find it, strip the extra candidates, and fill the single it unlocks.