Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — September 12, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid for September 12, 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. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 7).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  6. Star claim: Region 5 must place a star in row 3; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 2, column 8).
  7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 6).
  8. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  9. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 8).
  10. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
  12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  14. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 5).
  15. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 8).
  16. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 6).
  17. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in cols 6-9, eliminate 1 outside candidates (row 4, column 6).
  18. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 6).
  19. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  20. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 2, column 7).
  21. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  22. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 7).
  23. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 5).
  25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  27. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 2).
  28. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  29. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 1).
  30. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 4).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  32. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  33. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  34. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  36. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  37. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  38. Two last candidates (column 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 2).
  39. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
  40. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  41. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  43. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
  44. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 8).
  45. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 9).
  46. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  48. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  49. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 5).
  50. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  51. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 9).
  52. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  53. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 3).
  55. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 8).
  56. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 9).
  57. 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.