When a candidate within a box is confined to a single row or column, it can be eliminated from the rest of that line outside the box.
A Pointing Pair arises from the overlap between two of Sudoku's constraint types: boxes and lines (rows or columns). Every 3x3 box intersects with three rows and three columns. When a particular candidate number within a box can only appear in cells that all lie in the same row (or column), the number "points" along that line. Since the number must go somewhere in that box - and it can only go in that one line - it cannot appear elsewhere in the line outside the box.
For example, if the number 3 within box 1 can only be placed in row 2 (perhaps in cells R2C1 and R2C2), then 3 can be eliminated from all other cells in row 2 that are outside box 1 (cells R2C4 through R2C9). The pair of cells "points" along row 2, hence the name.
When three cells in the box are involved instead of two, the pattern is called a Pointing Triple, but the elimination logic is identical. For more terminology, visit our Sudoku glossary.
Pointing Pairs are a go-to technique when Naked Singles and Hidden Singles are not enough to make progress. They are among the easiest intermediate techniques to learn and are highly effective on medium and hard puzzles.
Many solvers check for Pointing Pairs in combination with Box-Line Reduction as a natural pair of complementary techniques. Together, they thoroughly exploit box-line intersections before moving to more complex methods like Naked Pairs. See our strategies guide for the full hierarchy, or start with how to play Sudoku.
Pointing Pairs is classified as an intermediate-level technique. It is one of the first intermediate methods most solvers learn because the logic is intuitive and visual.
Rarely needed - singles are typically sufficient
Commonly needed - a core medium-level technique
Frequently used alongside pairs and triples
Always checked - foundational for expert solving
A Pointing Pair occurs when a candidate number within a 3x3 box is restricted to a single row or column. Since that number must go somewhere in that row or column within the box, it can be eliminated from all other cells in that row or column outside the box.
A Pointing Pair involves two cells in the same box and row (or column) that are the only cells containing a specific candidate. A Pointing Triple is the same concept but with three cells. The elimination logic is identical - the candidate is removed from the rest of the row or column outside the box.
They are complementary techniques that exploit the same box-line intersection. Pointing Pairs start with candidates in a box and eliminate from the row/column. Box-Line Reduction starts with candidates in a row/column and eliminates from the box. They are essentially the same logic applied in opposite directions.
Pointing Pairs are quite common in medium and hard puzzles. They are one of the most frequently useful intermediate techniques and are often the bridge between basic singles strategies and more complex methods like X-Wings.
Easy puzzles can typically be solved with Naked Singles and Hidden Singles alone. Pointing Pairs are rarely needed for easy puzzles but become essential starting at the medium difficulty level. They are a core technique for any solver moving beyond beginner strategies.
We're tracking the digit 5. Look at the upper-left 3×3 box. Where can 5 fit there? Only in two cells of row 1.
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