Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 17, 2026

Stuck on the August 17, 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 1, column 9).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 8).
  5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  7. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 1-6, eliminate 9 outside candidates (row 5, column 5).
  8. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
  9. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  10. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  11. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  12. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  13. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 1).
  14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 1).
  15. Column 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  19. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  20. Region confined to column: Eliminate other column candidates (row 2, column 2).
  21. Joint analysis (Row 7 + Region 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 9).
  22. Joint analysis (Row 10 + Region 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 10, column 6).
  23. Triple analysis (Row 8 + Column 4 + Column 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 6).
  24. Quad analysis (Region 7 + Row 2 + Region 1 + Row 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 6).
  25. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 7).
  26. Generalized counting (columns 10-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 10).
  27. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  28. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 7, column 5).
  29. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 8).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 7).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  35. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 9).
  36. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 10).
  37. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 10).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  40. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 8).
  41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  44. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  45. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 2).
  46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  49. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  53. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
  57. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 3).
  58. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 4).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
  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.