Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — March 17, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for March 17, 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. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 8).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 9).
  6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 6).
  8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 5).
  9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 5).
  11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  12. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 3).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
  14. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 7).
  15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  16. Row 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  17. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 5).
  18. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 3).
  19. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 3).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 5, column 2).
  21. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  22. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
  23. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 5).
  24. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 6).
  25. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 2, column 6).
  26. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  27. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  28. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
  29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 10).
  30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
  31. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 8).
  32. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  33. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  34. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  35. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  36. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 4).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  38. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  40. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  41. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  43. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  44. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  45. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  46. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  47. Column 3 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  48. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 1).
  49. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  50. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 1).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  52. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  53. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  54. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  55. Clump analysis (Column 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 8).
  56. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  57. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  58. Column 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
  59. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  60. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  61. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
  62. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 4).
  63. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  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.