Suguru Puzzles
The grid is cut into regions of at most five cells. Fill every region with 1 to its size, and never let orthogonally adjacent cells match — even across region borders. Sixty grids from compact to 9-wide, each verified solvable and explained.
Also known as Tectonic or Blocks.
Regions, Digits, Adjacency
A Suguru puzzle has three rules. Each region of size S holds the digits 1 to S exactly once. Cells that share an edge never hold the same digit — even across region borders. And every cell is filled: there are no empty cells in the solution.
How To Solve Suguru
- Start with the smallest regions. A region of size 2 holds a 1 and a 2 — two cells with only two candidates between them.
- Use the adjacency rule. Any neighbour of a placed digit loses that candidate — even across region borders.
- Narrow, then place. A cell with one remaining candidate is placed. Then its neighbours lose that candidate again.
- Watch region completion. A region missing one digit has exactly one cell that can take it.
Candidate lists are the method. For each cell, track which digits are still possible: cross off digits in its region, then digits in adjacent cells. When one candidate survives, the cell is placed.
The Four Grid Sizes
| Family | Board | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Compact | 6×6 | Small regions, quick deductions |
| Medium | 7×7 | The standard suguru canvas |
| Large | 8×8 | Longer adjacency chains |
| Wide / Tall | 6×9 and 9×6 | Uneven shapes change the region flow |
Where Suguru Fits
Suguru shares the region discipline of killer sudoku (cages hold digit sets) and the adjacency awareness of futoshiki (neighbouring cells interact). It is the natural bridge between the two: the regions train set-thinking, the adjacency trains neighbour-aware elimination.
Suguru Puzzles: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Suguru puzzle?
The grid is divided into regions of at most five cells. Fill every cell with a digit so that each region of size S contains the digits 1 to S exactly once, and orthogonally adjacent cells never hold the same digit, even across region borders.
How do you solve Suguru puzzles?
Start from regions or cells with the fewest candidates. A cell in a region of size 3 can only hold 1, 2 or 3 — and any adjacent cell that already shows one of those digits removes it. Narrow the candidates cell by cell until every placement is forced.
What is the adjacency rule in Suguru?
Two cells that share an edge — including cells in different regions — never hold the same digit. Diagonal cells may match. This is the rule that crosses region borders and links the whole grid together.
Is Suguru the same as Tectonic?
Yes — Suguru is also known as Tectonic or Blocks. The names describe the same puzzle: regions of up to five cells, digits 1 to region size, and no equal digits in adjacent cells.
How many puzzles are there?
There is no fixed number. Each grid is rebuilt from the short seed in the page address, so the supply is effectively unlimited. Copying the grid link saves that exact grid permanently.
Can I practise one pattern at a time?
Yes. Pick any pattern from the catalogue above and the board switches to that grid size and partition only, with its own address you can bookmark or hand out.
Is Suguru good for beginners?
Yes. The small boards solve with a handful of deductions, and every rule fits in one sentence. It is one of the best first grid puzzles because the region borders show you exactly where the constraints apply.
Why do adjacent cells in different regions matter?
Because the no-repeat rule crosses region borders. Two cells in different regions that share an edge still cannot match — this is what links the regions into one grid-wide deduction chain.