Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — February 28, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 11×11 grid for February 28, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Step through it below.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 64

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 2, column 3).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 3).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  9. Undercounting: 7 regions fit in rows 1-7, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 6, column 9).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 7).
  11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  12. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 5).
  13. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  14. Row 8 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 2).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  16. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 2).
  17. Crowding (Row 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 3).
  19. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  20. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
  21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  22. Column 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
  24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
  25. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  27. Row 2 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 6).
  28. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 4).
  29. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
  30. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
  31. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 11, column 2).
  32. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 6).
  33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 7).
  34. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  35. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 5).
  36. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  37. Row 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  38. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
  39. Column 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
  41. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  43. Row 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  44. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  45. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  46. Row 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 10).
  47. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 11).
  48. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 3, column 10).
  49. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 9).
  50. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 11).
  51. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 11).
  52. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 10).
  53. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  54. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 11, column 11).
  55. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 10).
  56. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 10).
  57. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  58. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 11, column 9).
  59. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
  60. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 6).
  61. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 6).
  62. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  63. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 8).
  64. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This is an independent, logic-based walkthrough created by TryHard Puzzles to teach Star Battle solving technique. TryHard Puzzles is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Inkwell Games.