Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — May 30, 2026

Stuck on the May 30, 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 53

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 9, column 2).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  4. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  7. Row 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 5).
  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 2, column 4).
  9. 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).
  10. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  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 7, column 9).
  14. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  15. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  16. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 6).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  20. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  21. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  24. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 7).
  25. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  31. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
  32. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 4).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  40. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 5).
  41. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
  43. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
  45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  46. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 2).
  47. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 1).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  49. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  51. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  53. 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.