The last free spot
The simplest step in a Star Battle puzzle: when a row, a column or a table has only one free spot left, the cup must go there.
Before
After
How to spot it
- Look for the smallest table first. A table of one spot is a free cup.
- After every cup, cross out its row, its column, its table and the eight spots around it. Count what is left.
- Check rows and columns too, not only tables. A long row can shrink to one spot after a few crosses.
Why it works
Every row, column and table needs exactly one cup. If only one spot is still open, there is no other place for that cup. This step never fails, so it is always worth checking before anything harder.
Try it on a real board
Play a free board in your browser, no account needed. When you are stuck, the hint shows where to look, then explains the step.
The Brewdoku app has 300 levels that bring in these steps one at a time, from small boards to 10x10, and a hint that shows where to look, then why, and only then makes the move.
