Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — September 4, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for September 4, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 50

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 10, column 2).
  3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 3).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 1).
  9. Row 10 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 5).
  10. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  12. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  13. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  14. Column 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  16. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
  18. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  24. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  26. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 5).
  27. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  29. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 10).
  30. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
  31. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 10).
  32. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 10).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  34. Row 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  35. Row 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  39. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  43. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 2).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  47. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
  48. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  50. 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.