Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — October 1, 2026

Stuck on the October 1, 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 63

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 9).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
  10. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 1-2, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 9, column 1).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  12. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  16. Squeeze (rows 9-10): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 5).
  17. Generalized counting (rows 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 9).
  18. Generalized counting (columns 3-6): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 6).
  19. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
  20. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  21. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  22. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 5).
  23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 6).
  24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  26. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  27. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
  28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  32. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  36. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  37. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
  38. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 7).
  39. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  41. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 6).
  42. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 10).
  43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 4).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 10).
  50. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 4).
  51. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
  53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  54. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  55. Column 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 7).
  56. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
  58. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
  60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 8).
  61. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
  62. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
  63. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new expert Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More expert puzzles Sign up free
← Previous expert
All solutions
Next expert →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.