Medium Sudoku – the balanced level
A medium Sudoku begins with about 34 clues, striking the balance between easy and hard. Quick scanning alone is no longer enough; you need to combine row, column and box deliberately. This level suits players who finish easy puzzles too fast but are not ready for advanced techniques yet. Expect around eight to fifteen minutes.
What sets medium apart from easy
With fewer starting numbers, some cells allow several candidates at once. You can no longer solve every cell immediately and instead work forward from the positions you are sure about. This back and forth between safe moves and careful elimination makes the medium level ideal practice.
Notes become important
On this level it pays to write the possible numbers for each open cell as notes. That keeps you organised and shows when candidates rule each other out. Clean notes prevent follow-up mistakes and save you from starting over.
Spotting Locked Candidates
A typical medium technique is Locked Candidates, also called Pointing Pairs. When a number is only possible in one row or column within a box, you can eliminate it from the rest of that row or column. This pattern moves you forward when singles are no longer enough.