LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #279 Answer & Analysis

Start by listing the nine initial givens and pencil candidates for all empty cells. The givens include R1C2=1, R1C6=4, R2C1=2, R2C5=6, R3C2=3, R3C6=1, R4C4=5, R5C3=4, R6C4=3. With those in place, many candidates are eliminated immediately in nearby rows, columns and boxes.

Examine the top-right 2x3 box (rows 1–2, cols 4–6). That box already contains 4 (R1C6) and 6 (R2C5). Looking at R2: it already has 2 (R2C1) and 6 (R2C5), so R2 is missing {1,3,4,5}. Column 4 already has 5 (R4C4) and 3 (R6C4), so column 4 cannot be 3 or 5. Combining row, column and box candidates leaves only one possible value for R2C4.

Placing R2C4=1 reduces candidates in its row, its column and its box. Update pencil marks across the top-right box and column 4. That often creates new single candidates or small candidate sets (pairs/triples) which you can use to place further numbers by elimination.

After propagation, look for boxes where a particular digit can only go in one of two cells that lie in the same row or column — that creates restricted pairs and forces placements in adjacent boxes. Repeating this process completes the middle and lower boxes logically.

Continue scanning for single candidates and hidden/visible pairs created by earlier placements. Each new placement triggers more eliminations. Eventually every row, column and 2x3 box will contain numbers 1–6 with no conflicts; that yields today's Mini Sudoku solution.