Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 18, 2026

Stuck on the August 18, 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 72

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 4, column 8).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 6).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 6).
  8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 9).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 9).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 8).
  12. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  15. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  16. Generalized counting (rows 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 4).
  17. Generalized counting (columns 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 1).
  18. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 9).
  19. Generalized counting (columns 7-7): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 7).
  20. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
  21. Crowding (Region 9): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  22. Composite container (rows 5-8): Region 2 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 5 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 7, column 2).
  23. Crowding (Row 9): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
  24. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 2).
  25. Composite container (rows 5-8): Region 2 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 5 of the band's 8 stars - impossible without stars on these cells (row 8, column 1).
  26. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 1).
  27. Composite container (columns 2-9): Regions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 16 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 8).
  28. Star claim: Region 9 must place a star in row 3; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 4, column 7).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  31. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 4).
  32. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
  33. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  34. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  36. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 10, column 10).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  38. Composite container (columns 2-6): Regions 2, 5, 6 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 3).
  39. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 3).
  40. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 3).
  41. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  42. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  47. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  49. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  50. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  54. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  56. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
  59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  60. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 6).
  61. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  62. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  63. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
  64. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  65. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
  66. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
  67. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  68. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  69. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  70. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  71. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  72. 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.