Magic Triple

Magic Triple is an advanced Sudoku strategy used for eliminations. In many cases, the eliminations can be deduced by Locked Set or Naked/Hidden Triple strategies as well, but Magic Triple takes it a step further.

Magic Triple focuses on three cells that see each other, with three candidates. One of the candidates (X) can only go in two of these cells. X can be eliminated from any other cells that see both of these cells.

Example 1

In the image below, the cells A5, A6, and C4 form a Magic Triple. The digit 2 must be in either A5 or A6 because if it is not, there will be no candidate left for cell C3. The Magic Triple cells are also a Naked Triple; however, in Naked Triple, the elimination is of candidates that see all the naked triple cells, whereas in Magic Triple, the elimination is of candidates that see only two cells and a single digit. In this example, the digit is 2 in cells A5 and A6. Therefore, 2 can be eliminated from every cell that sees both A5 and A6. In this case, the 2 in cell A2 can be eliminated.

Example 2

An extension of Magic Triple into the variants world. The puzzle in the image below includes the Diagonal variant. The cells A1, I1, and I9 form a Magic Triple. The digit 8 must be in either I1 or I9, or else there will be no candidate left for A1. The 8 can be eliminated from all the cells that see both I1 and I9. These 8’s are highlighted in red.