Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — April 27, 2026

Stuck on the April 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 57

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. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  5. Generalized counting (columns 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 3).
  6. Composite container (columns 4-9): Regions 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 5).
  7. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 1 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 2, column 1).
  8. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 9 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 7, column 2).
  9. Joint analysis (Row 2 + Row 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 3).
  10. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 1).
  11. Composite container (rows 3-9): Regions 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 6).
  12. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 3): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 5).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  15. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  16. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 8).
  17. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 5).
  18. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 3).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 1).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
  22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  23. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 2).
  25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  28. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 7).
  29. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 7).
  30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  34. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 4).
  35. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 2).
  36. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 8).
  37. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  41. Column 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
  42. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 9).
  43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  55. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 3).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  57. 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.