SUDOKU
Sudoku is a favorite pastime for many people in North
America. Its addictive qualities lie in the personal
satisfaction of solving a puzzle, without assistance.
Sudoku is also called Number Place or Nanpure. Originating
in France at the end of the 19th century, it experienced
a revival in Japan approximately a century later. International
popularity soon followed.
In Japanese, Sudoku is an abbreviation of the phrase
“the number must be single”. The “single”
in this phrase can also mean an unmarried person; the
implication being that compared to married people, unmarried
people have a lot of time to enjoy Sudoku.
The rules of Sudoku are simple. A number from 1 to
9 is placed in the blank spaces of a grid. This number
can only appear once in each row and each column, as
well as within the 3 bold squares on the grid.
A beginner's strategy may simply involve placing possible
numbers in all empty spaces. Extra numbers are then
eliminated, leaving the correct number at the end. This
process may not require much thought, depending on luck
rather than logic.
Another strategy may require more thought, involving
observation and a logical thought process much like
that of chess.
Either way, Sudoku requires concentration coupled with
patience. One minor error can be devastating, sending
the player back to square one. Therefore, each number
entered into the grid must be correct.
With increasing popularity, Sudoku can be found in
any major newspaper or magazine. A compilation of puzzles
can also be found at inexpensive “dollar stores”.
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