Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — January 11, 2026

Stuck on the January 11, 2026 expert Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 62

Full written solution

Every deduction from the walkthrough above, in order. Each technique is explained in the Star Battle strategy guide.

  1. Starting position — the grid is split into regions (bold outlines). Each row, column, and region needs exactly two stars, and no two stars may touch.
  2. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  6. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  7. Column 4 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 4).
  8. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 10, column 7).
  9. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 6).
  10. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  11. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 8).
  12. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  13. Row 10 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  14. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 5).
  15. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 5).
  16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  17. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 7).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  21. Row 8 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 2).
  24. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 2).
  25. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 9).
  26. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 9).
  27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 10).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
  29. Column 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 10).
  30. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 7).
  31. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 7).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  34. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  35. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 1).
  36. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
  37. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 2).
  38. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 2).
  39. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 7).
  40. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  41. Clump analysis (Column 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
  42. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  45. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 6).
  46. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 4, column 7).
  47. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  51. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 9).
  52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  53. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 3).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  59. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  60. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
  61. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.