The minimum number of givens in a sudoku puzzle is generally accepted to be 17 numbers, and there is a misconception that the fewer numbers there are given to start, the harder the puzzle. While there is a tendency for sudoku puzzles with fewer givens to be harder it doesn't make them all hard. In fact here is a sudoku with the minimum number of 17 givens possible, and it only includes 8 of the 9 numbers and yet it is solvable using only hidden singles!
Here is a puzzle consisting of 17 givens, with only the numbers 1 - 8 given. The textual representation is given if you want to copy and paste it into a sudoku program to check or solve it for yourself!
.4.....8. ..7....6. ....1.... 41....2.. .....5... .3....... ..6..7..3 ..58.6... ........1
However, what is difficult is finding sudoku puzzles with only 17 givens. It requires a lot of computer processing power!
Play online sudoku now or check out our 300 Sudoku Puzzles: Easy to Extreme book! Or start off with 150 Easy Sudoku Puzzles.
