Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — November 8, 2026

Stuck on the November 8, 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 57

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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 2).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  5. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 1-4, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 4, column 1).
  6. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  7. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 8).
  8. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  10. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 8).
  11. Generalized counting (columns 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 3).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 6).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  15. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  16. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 1).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  19. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 2).
  20. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  21. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 9).
  22. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  23. Composite container (rows 5-8): Regions 2, 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 7, column 5).
  24. Crowding (Column 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  25. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
  26. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
  27. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 6).
  28. Generalized counting (rows 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 8, column 3).
  29. Composite container (rows 5-7): Regions 4 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 8).
  30. Squeeze (columns 7-8): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 7).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  32. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 4).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  34. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 2).
  35. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  37. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 3).
  38. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  43. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  53. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 2).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  57. 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.