Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 9, 2026

Stuck on the August 9, 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 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 9, column 5).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
  7. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  9. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 8-10, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 8, column 1).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 1).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 2).
  12. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 7, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  14. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
  16. Squeeze (rows 8-9): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 2).
  17. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 4).
  19. Column 4 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  20. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 6).
  21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  23. Generalized counting (rows 5-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 5).
  24. Generalized counting (columns 7-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 6).
  25. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 7).
  26. Generalized counting (columns 1-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 5).
  27. Clump analysis (Column 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 5).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  29. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 6).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  32. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  34. Row 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  35. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  36. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  38. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 10).
  39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  41. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 3).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 10).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  44. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  55. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  57. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 8).
  58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
  60. 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.