How to Play Sections

This page explains the rules of Sections and walks you through solving your first puzzle.

Sections is a logic puzzle played on a grid. The grid is divided into groups of cells called sections, separated by thick bars. Your goal is to fill every cell with a number. Each section must contain the numbers 1 through its length, with no repeats. Some cells start with numbers already filled in. Use logic to figure out the rest.

What is a Section?

A section is a group of connected cells running in one direction, either horizontal or vertical. Thick bars separate one section from another. The number of cells in a section determines its length.

If a section has 3 cells, it must contain exactly the numbers 1, 2, and 3. If a section has 2 cells, it must contain 1 and 2. The length tells you which numbers belong inside.

The Core Rule

Every cell belongs to two sections at the same time: one horizontal and one vertical. The number you place must be valid for both sections. This means it cannot be larger than either section allows, and it cannot repeat in either section.

The center cell belongs to a horizontal section of length 2 (left of the bar) and a vertical section of length 3 (the full column). The horizontal section means you can only place 1 or 2. Since 1 is already in the vertical section, the only valid choice is 2.

Key insight: The shortest section a cell belongs to determines the maximum number you can place there.

Rules Summary

When placing a number in any cell:

• •The number must not already appear in the same horizontal section
• •The number must not already appear in the same vertical section
• •The number must not exceed the length of either section

If all three conditions are met, the number is valid. If any condition fails, the number does not belong in that cell.

Example Walkthrough

Let's solve a cell step by step. Look at the selected cell below. What number goes there?

The selected cell belongs to a vertical section of length 2 (with the cell above). This means it can only contain 1 or 2. The cell above already has 1, so the only option left is 2.

This is how Sections works: You combine constraints from both directions to narrow down possibilities until only one number fits.

How Sections Differs from Sudoku

In Sudoku, every row, column, and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1 through 9. The constraints are fixed and uniform. In Sections, the constraints come from sections of varying lengths. There are no boxes, and the sections are defined by bars that change from puzzle to puzzle.

• •Sudoku uses rows, columns, and boxes. Sections uses only horizontal and vertical sections.
• •Sudoku sections are always length 9. Sections can have lengths from 1 to 9.
• •In Sudoku, every cell can hold 1 through 9. In Sections, the maximum depends on the sections a cell belongs to.

These differences make Sections puzzles feel fresh even if you have solved thousands of Sudoku grids. The variable section lengths create unique logic patterns in every puzzle.

Ready to Play?

Now that you understand the rules, try today's puzzle. A new Sections challenge is available every day, with grid sizes ranging from 3×3 to 9×9.

Learn More

Looking for solving strategies? Visit our tips and strategies page for techniques that help you solve puzzles faster. You can also download printable puzzles to practice offline.