Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — July 21, 2026

Stuck on the July 21, 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 61

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: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 8).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 9).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 8).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 8).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 9).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  10. Generalized counting (rows 7-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 6).
  11. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - rows 7-10 must hold 8 stars but the regions there could only supply 7 (row 7, column 3).
  12. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - rows 7-10 must hold 8 stars but the regions there could only supply 7 (row 6, column 3).
  13. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - rows 7-10 must hold 8 stars but the regions there could only supply 7 (row 6, column 4).
  14. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - rows 7-10 must hold 8 stars but the regions there could only supply 7 (row 7, column 5).
  15. Lookahead: This cell must be a star - eliminating it leads to contradiction (rows 7-10 must hold 8 stars but the regions there could only supply 7) (row 7, column 4).
  16. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
  19. Clump analysis (Region 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 1).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  21. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
  22. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  23. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 10, column 2).
  24. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  25. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 5).
  26. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 4).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 4).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
  30. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  31. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
  35. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  36. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 7).
  37. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  40. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 5).
  41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  43. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  44. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 7).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  53. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  57. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 9).
  58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
  59. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  60. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new expert Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More expert puzzles Sign up free
← Previous expert
All solutions
Next expert →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.