Sudoku FAQ

Below are the 15 most frequently asked questions we've received to date. If we haven't covered your question and you cannot find it in the Terms of Service either, please feel free to contact us.

What is Sudoku?
What are the rules to Sudoku?
I'd like to know more about the terminology you are using.
Can you teach me How to Play Sudoku?
How do I get Free Sudoku Puzzles from you?
What does registration involve and are there any benefits for me?
Is my privacy respected or will my details be exposed?
Why do I have to pay for puzzles?
Are there any specific conditions attached to credits?
Is it safe to enter my credit card details on the site?
What will I find inside your website?
Why didn't I receive a ranking for my solution time?
Will my profile remain on the site after my subscription has ended?
Can I delete my profile altogether?
Are there any other exciting developments taking place?

What is Sudoku?

They come in various shapes and sizes, but the most popular of them all is the classic Sudoku puzzle. The modern version features a grid with 81 squares called cells. They are arranged in 9 rows by 9 columns. Inside the grid you'll find 9 boxes, each one with 3 rows by 3 columns. If you would like to learn more about its inception and other interesting facts, then head over to Wikipedia. In our opinion they offer the most accurate account of Sudoku's history. In short, Sudoku is a game based on logical reasoning.

What are the rules to Sudoku?

You will notice that there are values scattered all over the grid of an unsolved Sudoku puzzle. We call them clues (or givens). The Sudoku player must now fill the missing cells with candidates which will comply with this simple rule: each row (horizontally), each column (vertically) and each 3 x 3 box must contain the number 1 through 9 once only. Yip, there is just this one rule.

I'd like to know more about the terminology you are using

You can view the basic Sudoku definitions and illustrations under the page called Terminology. In our illustration we've used the classic puzzle, but the definitions can easily be adopted for different size puzzles as the principle remain the same. Just to proof its popularity, Sudoku has its own knowledge base called Sudopedia. A word of caution though, especially if you are new to Sudoku, rather not read this now because it is extremely comprehensive!.

Can you teach me How to Play Sudoku?

Certainly, the How to Play page offers you an introduction tutorial. If you are an expert, or would like to learn advanced techniques, then we'd suggest you take a look here. It starts with the easy techniques but then goes on to cover the more complicated ones as well.

How do I get Free Sudoku Puzzles from you?

We offer three amazing ways for you to get FREE Sudoku puzzles on our site. Think of them as free trial subscriptions … that just never ends!

Puzzle of the Day offers visitors the opportunity to play one puzzle from each difficulty level for free! That is five puzzles in total every day. Puzzles are updated every 24 hours and no registration is required. Access to the Puzzle of the Day is completely open to anyone who can find us on the Internet.

Daily Free Sudoku Emails are, as the same suggests, delivered via email at no charge. This function offers registered users the opportunity to receive one free puzzle per day via email. Registration is required for us to know where to deliver your email. You may opt-out anytime without affecting your membership status.

And finally, Free Games offer registered users access to 1000s upon 1000s of free Sudoku puzzles. All you need to do is to create your account.. Then login and voila, away you go!

Oh, so what's the catch? Nothing too terrible :-) We are able to offer free puzzles courtesy of our advertisers. Their wish is for you to enjoy Sudoku and have a look at their advertisement.

What does registration involve and are there any benefits for me?

Registration is quick and easy. It is similar to ordering pizza at home, really! You cannot get the pizza if you don't tell them where to deliver. We employ a double opt-in registration process. Yes, we know it takes a little longer to register but the benefit to you is that no-one else can subscribe on your behalf. Once the registration process is done you have access to more free puzzles. See the Player Levels page for more details. Also consult our Privacy Statement to see why we require certain information and what we do with it.

Is my privacy respected or will my details be exposed?

Privacy has become increasingly important to people and with good reason too. Sudoku.co.za is a permission based publisher and would like to build a lasting relationship with you, our customer. We wouldn't be so naive to say it cannot happen, but we take serious precautions to protect your information. For full details please see our Privacy Statement.

Why do I have to pay for puzzles?

The truth is, you don't have to! There are 1000s of free puzzles on the site. However, you may already be a pro Sudokuist in which case the average puzzle will be SO boring for you. Rest assured that we will be there to challenge you with lots of difficult puzzles - each one randomly generated on your demand and unique. As a paid subscriber you can call up new difficult puzzles as and when you wish. Besides, we've kept subscription very affordable. Also see the Player Levels page for a more detailed features list.

It was Leon M Cautillo who said The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten. There are websites that offer free Sudoku puzzles, but we cannot vouch for their service or the quality of their puzzles. We say each to their own. We offer free Sudoku puzzles, paid Sudoku puzzles and we also accommodate advertisers. And by doing that you can expect the best Sudoku website on the Internet.

Is it safe to enter my credit card details on the site?

Yes, and we wouldn't want it any other way! Currently we only offer secure credit card processing through Plimus.com. What! You've never heard of them before?! Plimus has been around since 2001. They employ cutting edge technology to create a seamless and safe commercial environment for customers and merchants. For security purposes your card details are encrypted while it travels across the Internet. No-one, not even us (the merchant) can see it. As an addition security measure we do not keep any card information on our site.

Are there any specific conditions attached to credits?

Good question! We know few people ever reads the Terms of Service of any website (neither do we lol). So let's just highlight certain restrictions pertaining to credits.

• Game credits are not refundable (not in portion nor as a whole)
• Game credits expire 6 (six) months after date of purchase
• Game credits are lost if you delete your profile

Have a look at our Refund Policy as well. That way you will know exactly what to expect.

What will I find inside your website?

It is a buzz and quite impossible to discuss everything we have to offer in the limited space provided, but we'll try and give you some idea:

• registered players get their own profile with functionality
• you will have a public profile
• you can view previously entered competitions (coming soon)
• you can view previously played puzzles
• you can view your ranking per level
• you can update your profile status and buy credits
• you can enter online competitions (coming soon) and a whole lot more!

Why didn't I receive a ranking for my solution time?

You probably haven't played enough puzzles to build a ranking. Ranking is done per level (of which there are five). Once you have played five puzzles of a specific level, we calculate the average time and give you a ranking for that specific level. With a ranking behind you, you are then eligible for a specific level's monthly knock-out session! Tip: make every second count when you play, the shorter your time to complete a puzzle, the lower your average and the better your ranking. Next month we reset the counters and repeat the process. In order to keep the playing field level, ranking is based on the unassisted time it took you to complete a puzzle.

Will my profile remain on the site after my credits are depleted?

Yes, your profile remains unchanged and you can still login, enjoy free games, enter competitions and play puzzles for a ranking (2 levels) after your credits are exhausted. However, you will have to buy credits again to play difficult puzzles and qualify for a ranking in the upper three levels. In other words, your profile reverts back to registered user status once your credits are depleted.

Can I delete my profile altogether?

Hey, we'll be sad to see you going, but we respect your wish. For that purpose we provide you with a “Delete Profile” button. Before you use the function, please bear in mind:

• that any unused credits will be lost
• the process cannot be reversed, and
• all your information is deleted completely*

*Using this function deletes all your information completely save for direct correspondence you may have send to us (such as technical questions via Contact). If you haven't logged in for a period of 6 (six) months, your profile will also be deleted.

Are there any other exciting developments taking place?

Absolutely! What you are experiencing now is phase 2. We have already done the business model on further developments and they will be activated as soon as we have completed and tested them. You are more than welcome to Contact us if you have any suggestions. And we mean it! We need your constructive criticism, suggestions and ideas. Even if you find a dead link - let us know. We want to make this a Sudokuist Paradise ... for your enjoyment!