What is Sudoku
Sudoku has taken the world by storm of late. So what is sudoku - is it a new game, or has it been around for a long time and only recently come to prominence? Here we look at sudoku, what it is, how long it has been around and why it is so addictive!
Well, sudoku itself is believed to be an abbreviation of Suji wa dokushinsha ni kagiru. So Sudoku or Su Doku was a safer bet! Basically, the name refers to the fact that only of each digit can occur in each row, column or 3 x 3 box.
In terms of how long it has been around, it is believe to have first appeared (at least in a very similar form) in Japanese magazines in the 1970s and to have cropped up in puzzle magazines over the years from time to time.
Why the sudden explosion? It seems to just be one of those fads that occurs from time to time - remember the yoyo or the hula hoop? The puzzling craze has swept over the nation. However there are elements that make sudoku particularly addictive:
First, it requires no mathematical ability at all - no addition, subtraction or any other sort of scary sounding operation. Rather it is a game of logic alone. Secondly, the rules are very simple indeed - see the 'how to play' page for more details here. Third there is a certain real sense of satisfaction in working out how to solve a tough puzzle and seeing all the numbers fall into place.