Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 2, 2026

Stuck on the August 2, 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 60

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 8, column 1).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 4).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
  10. Generalized counting (rows 9-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 6).
  11. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Row 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 8).
  12. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 9 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 5, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  14. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 7).
  15. Squeeze (columns 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 7).
  16. Generalized counting (rows 7-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 3).
  17. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 6).
  18. Squeeze (columns 5-6): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 5).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  20. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
  21. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - stars at R8C3 and R9C2 would touch (row 7, column 1).
  22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  28. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 9).
  29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
  31. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  33. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  35. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  36. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 3).
  37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  38. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  39. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
  40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 6).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  44. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  46. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  50. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  56. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 8).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  60. 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.