Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — March 29, 2026

Stuck on the March 29, 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 59

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 10, column 7).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 6).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 8).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  7. Row 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  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 4).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 5).
  10. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 2).
  12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 2).
  13. 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).
  14. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 6).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 6).
  16. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  17. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  19. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  20. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 5).
  21. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 4).
  22. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 4).
  23. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  25. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  26. Row 2 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
  27. Row 4 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  30. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
  31. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  34. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  37. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 10).
  38. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  39. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 9).
  40. 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).
  41. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 10).
  42. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 10).
  43. Generalized counting (rows 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 1).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  45. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  46. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 9).
  47. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  49. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 8).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  57. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
  58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 10).
  59. 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.