Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — January 27, 2026

Stuck on the January 27, 2026 expert Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 55

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 7, column 9).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 9).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  7. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  8. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 6).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  10. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  11. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 4, column 6).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 6).
  13. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 5).
  15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 6).
  16. 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 3).
  17. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  18. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 6).
  19. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 5-9, eliminate 1 outside candidate (row 7, column 5).
  20. Generalized counting (rows 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 1).
  21. Joint analysis (Row 2 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 3).
  22. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
  23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  25. Joint analysis (Column 5 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 4).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  27. Triple analysis (Region 1 + Region 5 + Column 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 2).
  28. Triple analysis (Row 4 + Row 5 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 3).
  29. Triple analysis (Row 7 + Column 3 + Column 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 3).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  36. Row 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  37. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
  38. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 5).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
  40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 3).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  46. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  55. 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.