Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — September 5, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for September 5, 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 60

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 2).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 9).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 2).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 9).
  8. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 9).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 8).
  12. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  13. Crowding (Column 9): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
  14. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 10).
  15. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
  16. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 8-10, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 8, column 7).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 7).
  18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  19. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 6).
  20. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  21. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 8).
  22. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
  23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  24. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  25. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 10).
  26. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 9).
  27. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 10).
  28. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 6).
  29. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 4).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  31. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  33. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
  34. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 1-3, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 2, column 3).
  35. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 5).
  36. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  37. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  38. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 5, column 4).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  40. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  41. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 6).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 4).
  44. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  45. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 5).
  46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  48. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  49. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
  50. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 5).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  53. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  54. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  55. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  56. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 3).
  57. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  58. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  59. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 2).
  60. 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.