Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — March 19, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for March 19, 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 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 (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  3. Clump analysis (Row 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 10).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 9).
  9. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 5, column 8).
  11. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 7).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  14. Row 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 6).
  16. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  17. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  18. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  19. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 8).
  20. Column 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 8).
  21. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 9).
  22. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
  23. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  24. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  25. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 5).
  26. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
  27. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 5).
  28. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  29. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
  30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  31. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 5, column 1).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 1).
  33. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  34. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 2).
  35. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 2).
  36. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 1, column 4).
  37. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
  38. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 10).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 4).
  41. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 2).
  43. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 10, column 3).
  44. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 2).
  45. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 4).
  46. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  47. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 5).
  48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  49. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 3).
  50. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  52. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  53. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  54. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  55. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  56. 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.