Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — August 20, 2026

Stuck on the August 20, 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 61

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