Just as people have to exercise our bodies in order to stay physically
fit, we also need to “exercise” our brains. Many seniors are interested
in keeping their minds sharp and in continuing to strengthen their
cognitive abilities as they get older. Some studies have suggested that
playing “brain games” like Sudoku might help people reduce their risk of
Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, or dementia as they get older.
- Sudoku Rule № 1: Use Numbers 1-9
Sudoku
is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9
“squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9
spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without
repeating any numbers within the row, column or square. Does it sound
complicated? As you can see from the image below of an actual Sudoku
grid, each Sudoku grid comes with a few spaces already filled in; the
more spaces filled in, the easier the game – the more difficult Sudoku
puzzles have very few spaces that are already filled in.
- Sudoku Rule № 2: Don’t Repeat Any Numbers
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As
you can see, in the upper left square (circled in blue), this square
already has 7 out of the 9 spaces filled in. The only numbers missing
from the square are 5 and 6. By seeing which numbers are missing from
each square, row, or column, we can use process of elimination and
deductive reasoning to decide which numbers need to go in each blank
space.
For example, in the upper left square, we know we need to
add a 5 and a 6 to be able to complete the square, but based on the
neighboring rows and squares we cannot clearly deduce which number to
add in which space. This means that we should ignore the upper left
square for now, and try to fill in spaces in some other areas of the
grid instead.
- Sudoku Rule № 3: Don’t Guess
Sudoku
is a game of logic and reasoning, so you shouldn’t have to guess. If
you don’t know what number to put in a certain space, keep scanning the
other areas of the grid until you seen an opportunity to place a number.
But don’t try to “force” anything – Sudoku rewards patience, insights,
and recognition of patterns, not blind luck or guessing.
- Sudoku Rule № 4: Use Process of Elimination
What
do we mean by using “process of elimination” to play Sudoku? Here is an
example. In this Sudoku grid (shown below), the far left-hand vertical
column (circled in Blue) is missing only a few numbers: 1, 5 and 6.
One
way to figure out which numbers can go in each space is to use “process
of elimination” by checking to see which other numbers are already
included within each square – since there can be no duplication of
numbers 1-9 within each square (or row or column).
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| Sudoku Rule № 4: Use Process of Elimination |
In
this case, we can quickly notice that there are already number 1s in
the top left and center left squares of the grid (with number 1s circled
in red). This means that there is only one space remaining in the far
left column where a 1 could possibly go – circled in green. This is how
the process of elimination works in Sudoku – you find out which spaces
are available, which numbers are missing – and then deduce, based on the
position of those numbers within the grid, which numbers fit into each
space.
Sudoku rules are relatively uncomplicated – but the game is
infinitely varied, with millions of possible number combinations and a
wide range of levels of difficulty. But it’s all based on the simple
principles of using numbers 1-9, filling in the blank spaces based on
deductive reasoning, and never repeating any numbers within each square,
row or column.
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