Just for fun and kudos, I am holding a competition for the 'easiest Sudoku puzzle'. Many people like to try their hand at creating Sudoku puzzles - and it's a fun process. But sometimes when you are searching for a difficult puzzle a dead easy one pops out. Now, instead of throwing it away, perhaps it can find a little glory on this page.

The rules are simple: The puzzle must have
1) a single solution and
2) a maximum of 32 clues
3) beat the Sudoku Solver's 'Easiest Sudoku" - which scores 8. The grading must occur before you press "Take Step".
To be the current winner your puzzle must demonstrate a smaller grade (although I'd be happy to list equal winners). UPDATE: . Since 2 is concievably the lowest score, new winners will have to have less clues that than the current winner.

I'm very pleased to start this competition with an entry from Eric Cole in Oregon, USA, which scores 7. I have recieved excellent contributions from Will Gibson, David Filmer and Mats Anderbok. You can load their puzzles by clicking on them:

Joint Winner 15th June 2010, (Score 2, 31 clues), David Filmer
2...5..48
5713.....
...96..7.
...2381..
86.1....9
7......52
489..7...
.3.64.2..
..5......


Joint Winner 7th May 2010, (Score 3, 31 clues), Ilmars Cirulis

6.....9.1
5286....3
...547..2
914...6..
.6.2.8...
.7...9..5
......187
..3.5..4.
29.8.....


Winner 25th October 2009, (Score 3, 31 clues), David Filmer
8...62.5.
539.8.7..
....3.14.
621.....3
.7....4..
..5....9.
...9..872
248..1...
3...5.6..


Winner 10th October 2009, (Score 4), Mats Anderbok
4..2..95.
83..6.7..
.6.1....2
7.5..8.2.
...432...
.....9168
6.....391
24.5...8.
.1..7....


Honourable Mention: 21st February 2011, (Score 7), Klaus Brenner
.....9...
.5...317.
.98..6.23
.....49.7
4..571..2
7.38.....
53.9..71.
.241...5.
...3.....

Winner 5th June 2009, (Score 7), Will Gibson
7......98
.9162..74
.4..3....
.3..9....
.123.456.
....6..2.
....7..4.
37..4561.
85......9

Winner 29th May 2009, (Score 8), Tobias Santschi
...967..1
.4.3...8.
.2.....7.
173....9.
...8.35.6
5...1....
..4..51..
9.5...2.7
83.621..4


Winner 18th May 2009, (Score 7), Will Gibson
1234.....
5..8..26.
8..7..91.
4371.....
.........
.....6489
.12..3..7
.86..5..2
.....7896


First Winner (Score 9), Eric Cole , 6th May 2009
3..967..1
.4.3.2.8.
.2.....7.
.7.....9.
...873...
5...1...3
..47.51..
9.5...2.7
8..621..4

Send your entries to me via the Feedback form.

Best of luck!

Andrew Stuart

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