Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — September 10, 2026

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

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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 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 1).
  3. Clump analysis (Row 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 9).
  9. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  10. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  12. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  15. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 6, column 1).
  16. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 6, column 10).
  17. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 2-5, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 2, column 10).
  18. Clump analysis (Column 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 10): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 10).
  20. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  21. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  23. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 10).
  24. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 3, column 8).
  25. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
  26. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  27. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 8).
  28. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 4).
  29. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 4, column 4).
  30. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  31. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 4).
  32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  33. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  35. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  36. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  37. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
  38. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  39. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 6).
  40. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  41. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 3).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  44. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  45. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 7).
  46. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 8, column 1).
  47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  48. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  49. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 8, column 5).
  50. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 3).
  51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  53. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 5).
  54. 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.