Naked Triple

A naked pair with one more cell. The catch: each cell doesn't need all three numbers.

What is a naked triple?

A naked triple is three cells in the same row, column or box whose candidates, taken together, are only three numbers.

Three cells, three numbers: those numbers must go into those cells. So no other cell in the unit can hold any of them.

the three cells the column they share candidates you can remove blue numbers: already filled in with the basics

Example from a real puzuru puzzle. Rows and columns are numbered 1 to 9 from the top left. Candidates are shown only for column 1.

The example

In column 1, the cells R1C1, R2C1, R3C1 have the candidates 7/8/9, 7/9, 7/8/9. Together that is only 7, 8 and 9.

Notice that not every cell holds all three numbers. That's normal and is why triples are easy to miss.

Remove 7, 8, 9 from the other cells of column 1: R4C1, R5C1, R6C1, R7C1.

The three cells also share box 1, so the same numbers leave the rest of that box too: 7, 9 from R3C2; 7, 8 from R3C3.

How to spot naked triples

Look for cells with two or three candidates that share a unit.

Combine their candidates. If three cells together use only three numbers, you have a triple.

Common mistake: two cells with 1/2 and one with 3/4 is not a triple; together that's four numbers.

Practice on Expert puzzles →

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FAQ

Does each cell in a naked triple need all three numbers?

No. A triple like 1/2, 2/3 and 1/3 counts. What matters is that the three cells together use only three numbers.

Is there a naked quad?

Yes. Four cells in a unit that together use only four numbers. It works the same way, but it's rare.

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