Expert technique · Technique Academy

2-String Kite

A 2-String Kite links a row and a column that each hold a digit in only two cells. One cell of the row and one of the column lie in the same box, forming the knot, and the other two cells are the tails.

Professor Cryptic, the owl who teaches in the app
Professor Cryptic is thinking

The reasoning

Why does the 2-String Kite work?

The two knot cells share a box, so they cannot both hold the digit, which means at least one tail does. A cell that sees both tails cannot hold it.

A worked example

What does the 2-String Kite look like on a real board?

2-String Kite worked exampleA sudoku board with pencil marks. The 2-String Kite uses R2C9, R2C5, R3C4, R9C4 and digit 4 (R2C5 and R3C4). The move strikes candidate 4 in R9C9.4387659127962481534815248934867581937246244696712438538243658179624319785387954826234624138154872623469346
The move strikes candidate 4 in R9C9. Digit 4, R2C5 and R3C4.
  • Cells that form the pattern
  • Cells that lose a candidate
  • Struck digit: ruled out

Make it stick

How can you practise the 2-String Kite?

The Technique Academy in Cryptic gives every technique its own lesson and 5 practice boards that need exactly this move.

Get it onGoogle PlayPlay Cryptic on the web

Further reading: HoDoKu's page on this family of techniques.

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