Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — February 13, 2026

Stuck on the February 13, 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 58

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. 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 2).
  3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  5. 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 8).
  6. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 1).
  7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
  8. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  11. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  12. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 3).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  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 6, column 7).
  17. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  18. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 6).
  19. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 4).
  20. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 4).
  21. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 4).
  22. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
  23. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 5).
  24. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 3).
  25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  28. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  29. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 4, column 8).
  30. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 8).
  31. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 8).
  32. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 8).
  33. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  34. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  35. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  42. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  46. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 5).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  55. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
  56. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  58. 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.