Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 19, 2026

Stuck on the August 19, 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 62

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. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
  4. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 1-3, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 1, column 1).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 5).
  6. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  10. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 1).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 4).
  12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 5).
  13. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in cols 1-6, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 1, column 6).
  14. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
  15. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  16. Clump analysis (Column 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 6).
  17. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  18. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 7).
  19. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  21. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  22. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  23. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 2).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 2).
  25. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 2).
  26. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 1).
  27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
  28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  29. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  34. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  36. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 5).
  37. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 4).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  39. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 4).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  44. Row 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 8).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  47. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 2, column 9).
  48. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 7).
  49. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
  50. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 10).
  51. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  53. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 10).
  55. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  56. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 8).
  57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
  62. 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.