Sudoku Academy

Hidden Triples are very similar to Hidden Pairs - we are looking for exactly 3 values that are candidates for exactly 3 cells.

Look at the 2, 6 and 8 in this puzzle - they only appear in 3 cells. We don't know exactly which value will appear in exactly which cell, but we do know that these 3 cells must contain the value 2, 6 and 8.

This allows us to remove all other candidates from these 3 cells.

All of the Naked/Hidden Pairs and Triples techniques can apply to rows, column or region, including Hidden Triples.

In this Sudoku, we have a Hidden Triple on the 3, 6 and 8 in column 4. Notice that you don't need every number to appear in all 3 cells.

Hidden Triples also appear in regions.

You will quite often find that Hidden Triples appear together with Naked/Hidden Pairs (as is the case in this example).

Can you spot the Hidden Triple in this puzzle?

Did you spot it?

Can you spot the Hidden Triple in this puzzle?

Did you spot it?

Can you spot the Hidden Triple in this puzzle?

Did you spot it?

That's everything you need to know about Hidden Triples.

It is possible to have Hidden Quads, i.e. 4 candidates confined to 4 cells. These are rare, but you will see them from time to time.