Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — October 8, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 11×11 grid for October 8, 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 66

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 3, column 3).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 6).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 3).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 9).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 6).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 9).
  8. Clump analysis (Column 11): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  15. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 1 must hold 2 stars but the regions there could only supply 1 (row 2, column 10).
  16. Joint analysis (Column 10 + Column 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 9).
  17. Squeeze (columns 9-10): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 10).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  19. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
  21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  24. Column 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 3).
  25. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 2).
  26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  28. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  29. Row 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 6).
  30. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 9).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  33. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 9).
  34. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 8).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 11).
  38. Row 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 6).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  42. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 5).
  43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 11).
  44. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  46. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  52. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 11).
  53. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 6).
  54. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 7).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  56. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 11).
  57. Row 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  59. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 11).
  60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 11).
  61. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  62. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 4).
  63. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 2).
  64. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 2).
  65. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 8).
  66. 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.