Expert Star Battle answer — March 16, 2026

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 5, column 6).
3. 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 6).
4. 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 2).
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 7).
6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 6).
7. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
9. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 4).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
12. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
13. Row 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
14. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 6).
15. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 8).
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 8, column 8).
17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 7).
18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
21. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 7).
22. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
26. Row 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
27. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 4).
28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 4).
29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
32. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 4).
33. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 2).
34. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
35. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 1).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
40. Two last candidates (column 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 2).
41. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
45. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Region 1 would end up with more than 2 stars (row 9, column 3).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
47. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 5).
48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.