Two-String Kite
Level 5 · Orange Belt
Strategy:
Single-Digit PatternsOverview
Two-String Kite uses two conjugate pairs for a single digit, with one pair in a row and one in a column, linked through a shared box. The candidate can be eliminated from cells seeing both string endpoints.
How It Works
- Find a conjugate pair (exactly 2 occurrences) of a digit in a row.
- Find another conjugate pair of the same digit in a column.
- The pairs must link in one box (share a cell or have cells in the same box).
- Eliminate the candidate from cells that see both outer endpoints.
Example
Look for Two-String Kite.
1
Two-String Kite
Digit 2 appears exactly twice in row 3 and exactly twice in column 1.
2
Two-String Kite
Row 3 and column 1 each form a conjugate pair for digit 2.
3
Two-String Kite
One endpoint from each pair shares box 1, forming the kite's joint.
4
Two-String Kite
The tails are r3c9 and r8c1. Since one tail must be 2, these cells that see both tails cannot keep 2: r8c9.
5
Two-String Kite
Remove 2 from the cells that see both r3c9 and r8c1: r8c9.
6
Result after applying the technique.
Tips & Patterns
- The "kite" is formed by the linking box, and the "strings" are the row and column conjugate pairs.
- Both endpoints of the strings are in different boxes.
- Look for digits appearing exactly twice in both a row and column.