Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — September 17, 2026

Stuck on the September 17, 2026 expert Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 56

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 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 5).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  7. Squeeze (rows 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 8).
  8. Generalized counting (columns 6-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 5).
  9. Composite container (rows 4-9): Regions 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 2).
  10. Composite container (rows 3-9): Regions 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 4).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  12. Composite container (rows 5-9): Regions 1, 2 and 6 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 6, column 8).
  13. Composite container (columns 6-9): Regions 6, 8 and 9 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 4, column 5).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 6).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  16. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 1).
  17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  19. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  20. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  21. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 1).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  23. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  24. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  25. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
  26. Clump analysis (Region 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 9).
  27. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 8).
  28. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 7).
  29. Crowding (Column 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
  30. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  33. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 7).
  34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  48. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  50. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 3).
  51. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  56. 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.