Pointing Pair/Triple

Interactive Tutorial

A Pointing Pair (or Pointing Triple) occurs when a digit within a box can only appear in cells that are all aligned in the same row or column. This alignment "points" outward, allowing eliminations in that row or column outside the box.

How It Works

The Pattern

Look for a digit within a box where:

The Logic

If digit 3 in Box 3 can only appear in R2C7 and R2C9 (both in Row 2), then:

The candidates "point" along the row/column, eliminating the digit elsewhere in that line.

How to Spot Pointing Pairs

Single-Digit Focus

The key to spotting intersection techniques is focusing on one digit at a time:

Approach Question What to Look For
Pointing Pair "Where can digit X go in this box?" All candidates fall into one line within a box
Box/Line Reduction "Where can digit X go in this row/column?" All candidates fall into one box within a line

Step-by-Step Scanning

  1. Pick a digit — Choose any digit 1-9
  2. Pick a box — Focus on one box at a time
  3. Ask: "Where can this digit go in this box?"
  4. Check alignment — Do all candidates fall into one row or column?
  5. Eliminate — If yes, remove that digit from the rest of that line outside the box

Using Focus Mode

Focus Mode makes pointing pairs much easier to spot:

  1. Tap a digit to highlight all cells containing it
  2. Look at each box — are the highlighted cells all in one row or column?
  3. If aligned, check if there are candidates to eliminate outside the box

Example

Look at Box 2 (top-middle) and ask: where can digit 6 go?

Box 2 Analysis:

Since digit 6 in Box 2 must be in Row 3, no other cell in Row 3 can contain 6.

Eliminations: Remove 6 from R3C3 (Row 3 cell outside Box 2)

puzzle: S9B4s0107091803064a4c281c1i2t082q7r7v81094g520l1o1m054b074i07024i018i04038i4nbqba048y02b707c34306040307b60205b707bk01447wbeba060558bgc22q032qb7bfbf4ebi05067u010702bi
mode: guided
technique: Pointing Pairs
initial:
  layers:
    hints: true
steps:
  - text: >
      Use Focus Mode to highlight digit 6. Where can 6 go in Box 2?
    hint: subtle
    technique: PP
    state:
      focus:
        enabled: true
        digits: [6]

  - text: >
      Digit 6 in Box 2 only appears in R3C5 and R3C6 — both in Row 3!
    hint: obvious
    technique: PP
    state:
      selection:
        cells: [R3C5, R3C6]
      focus:
        enabled: true
        digits: [6]

  - text: >
      This is a Pointing Pair. The digit "points" along Row 3, claiming that row for Box 2.
    hint: obvious
    technique: PP
    state:
      selection:
        cells: [R3C5, R3C6]
      focus:
        enabled: true
        digits: [6]

  - text: >
      Eliminate 6 from other Row 3 cells outside Box 2: R3C3~6.
    hint: detailed
    technique: PP
    state:
      selection:
        cells: [R3C3]
      focus:
        enabled: true
        digits: [6]
settings:
  showCandidates: true
  showControls: true
  showDescription: true
  navigation: numbered

Pointing Triples

The same logic applies when three cells align:

In the same puzzle, look at Box 8 (bottom-middle):

Tips

  1. Scan each box systematically — For each digit, check if its candidates align
  2. Both directions — Candidates can point horizontally (row) or vertically (column)
  3. Works with 2 or 3 cells — Pairs are more common, but triples occur
  4. Common in medium puzzles — Often the key to progressing past basic techniques

The Intersection Family

Pointing Pairs and Box/Line Reduction are complementary:

Technique Starting Point Direction Eliminates From
Pointing Pair Box Points out Row/Column
Box/Line Reduction Row/Column Points in Box

Both exploit the same intersection geometry — where a row or column crosses a box.

More Puzzles

Related Techniques