Let’s be real—you hop onto LinkedIn for career growth, networking, and maybe a little peek at who viewed your profile. But now, there’s a satisfying, brain-teasing detour: Mini Sudoku!
This isn’t your grandma’s 9×9 behemoth. LinkedIn’s version is a neat, sweet, and quickly solvable 6×6 grid using only the numbers 1 through 6. It’s designed for a quick mental break, but if you’re like most pros, you don’t just want to finish it—you want to finish it fast and climb that leaderboard!
Ready to swap “analysis paralysis” for “lightning-fast solutions”? Here are the hummable tips to master the Mini Sudoku for fast answers.
🎯 Know the Mini Rules (They’re Your Speed Limit)
First, a quick refresher on the compact rules. You must place the numbers 1 through 6 such that:
- Each Row contains every number (1-6) exactly once.
- Each Column contains every number (1-6) exactly once.
- Each of the Six 3×2 boxes (regions) contains every number (1-6) exactly once.
The key to speed is to embrace the logic and never guess. Guessing is the fastest way to hit a wall!
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⚡️ Three Essential Strategies for Speed
The traditional Sudoku techniques apply, but in this smaller grid, they’re faster and more potent. Focus on these three major moves:
1. The Power of the Single Candidate (Naked Single)
This is your bread and butter, especially for the LinkedIn Mini Sudoku, which is designed to be quick.
- How it works: Look at an empty cell. Now, eliminate every number (1-6) that already exists in that cell’s row, column, and 3×2 box.
- The goal: If only one number is left as a possibility, you’ve found a Naked Single. Lock it in immediately!
- Speed Tip: Don’t write down all candidates. Instead, quickly scan the row/column/box and mentally “cross off” the available numbers (1-6). When only one is left, click!
2. The Area Scan (Row/Column/Box Sweep)
Start your puzzle by attacking the areas that are already the fullest.
- How it works: Scan a Row, Column, or 3×2 Box that has four or five numbers already filled in.
- The goal: Since you know exactly which one or two numbers are missing from that area, it narrows down your possibilities instantly.
- Speed Tip: If only one number is missing from a full Row/Column/Box, that number must go in the single empty cell. This is often the fastest way to get your first few answers.
3. The “Pointing” Technique (Elimination by Box)
This technique uses one area to eliminate candidates in an adjacent area.
- How it works: Pick one number (say, ‘4’). Look at a 3×2 box where the ‘4’ is missing.
- The goal: See where the ‘4’ already exists in the rows or columns that pass through that box. If the existing ‘4’s outside the box force the missing ‘4’ inside the box into a single available cell, then you have your answer!
- Speed Tip: Practice this by focusing on one number at a time (e.g., Find all the ‘1’s, then all the ‘2’s). This systematic approach prevents your eyes from wandering and builds momentum.
💡 Pro-Level Productivity Hacks
You’re a professional; treat this like a tiny project with a short deadline.
| Productivity Hack | Why it Works for Speed |
| Start with the most common number. | If the number ‘3’ appears 5 times, it’s easier to find the last one than finding a ‘6’ that only appears twice. |
| Work in 3×2 Boxes. | In a 6×6 grid, the boxes are smaller (only 6 cells) and are often the easiest area to spot singles and pairs. |
| Trust Your Logic (and the Puzzle). | The puzzles are handcrafted to be solvable with pure logic. If you’re stuck, you missed a simple single, not an advanced move. Go back and re-scan. |
| Avoid the “Guessing Cliff.” | If you feel an impulse to guess, stop! Instead, switch to a different part of the grid. A new perspective often reveals the answer you overlooked. |
The LinkedIn Mini Sudoku isn’t just a distraction; it’s a great exercise in logic, speed, and focus—skills that translate directly to your professional life. Hit that daily puzzle with a plan, stick to the logic, and watch your solve time shrink!
Now go get that new fastest time!
What’s your best time on the Mini Sudoku? Share your record in the comments!
🏆 Understanding the LinkedIn Games Leaderboard
1. The Types of Leaderboards
There are generally two main types of leaderboards you can climb:
- Connections Leaderboard: This shows your ranking among your direct LinkedIn professional connections who also play the games. Your time on the Mini Sudoku directly contributes to this ranking. This is often the most engaging board as it pits you against people you know!
- Company/School Leaderboard: This ranks companies or schools based on the collective performance of their employees or students who play the games.
2. How to Access and View Your Rank
After you complete a Mini Sudoku game, LinkedIn will usually display a results screen that shows:
- Your Time (the key metric for the Sudoku leaderboard).
- Your Rank among your connections.
- The Company/School leaderboards (if your organization is large enough to be featured).
Note on Visibility:
- Eligibility: The Company/School leaderboard often only displays the top companies/schools that meet a minimum employee threshold (sometimes stated as a minimum of 500 employees on LinkedIn).
- Mobile vs. Desktop: Some users have reported minor differences in leaderboard access or visibility between the mobile app (especially Android) and the desktop website. If you can’t see it on one, try the other!
3. Climbing the Board: Speed is King
To move up the leaderboard for Mini Sudoku, your focus must be on speed.
- Your fastest time on the daily puzzle is what matters most. The lower your time, the higher your rank.
- The tips from the blog post (Single Candidate, Area Scan, Pointing Technique) are all designed to help you shave off those crucial seconds to beat your friends and colleagues.
Would you like me to find the current world record or top times reported for the LinkedIn Mini Sudoku to give you a benchmark?
