Visual primer for first-time solvers
Kakuro,
shown not told.
Live demonstrationStep 01 / 07
Step01—Meet the board
This is Kakuro.
A number puzzle where every white cell gets a digit from 1–9. The black cells with diagonal lines are clue cells. The number in the upper-right of a clue cell is the target sum for the vertical run below it. The number in the lower-left is the target sum for the horizontal run to the right.
Rules in play
- Each run's digits must sum exactly to its clue number
- No digit (1–9) may repeat within a single run
- Every cell is determinable by logic — no guessing
Clue cell
Upper-right = down sum · lower-left = across sum. One cell can carry both clues.
White cell
Fill with a digit 1–9. No digit repeats within the same across or down run.
Candidates
When a forced combination is known, the possible digits show in the cell before the final placement.