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I remember the first “hard” puzzle I attempted online. I started confidently, filling in the obvious numbers. Then I hit a particularly tricky 3x3 box, and nothing seemed to fit. Frustration set in, and I nearly gave up.

But then I remembered a tip: look for the numbers that already appear most frequently in a row or column. Slowly, I started eliminating possibilities, filling in squares one by one. Finally, the last number clicked into place. That aha! moment, when the puzzle falls together perfectly, is addictive. I felt like I’d conquered a tiny mountain—and I wanted more.

Funny and Unexpected Sudoku Moments

Sudoku doesn’t just challenge your brain; it can also make life funny. One evening, while working on a tricky puzzle, my cat jumped onto my lap and kept swiping my pencil. I accidentally placed numbers in the wrong squares, but somehow, I still solved the puzzle. From that day on, I jokingly refer to my cat as my Sudoku assistant.

Another time, I tried completing a “diabolical” puzzle during a video call with a friend. I was so focused that I barely responded to their questions, nodding absentmindedly while mentally juggling numbers. We laughed about it afterward, and I realized just how immersive Sudoku can be.