Acerca de KenKen
KenKen (also called Calcudoku) fills a grid with digits 1 through N so no digit repeats in any row or column — the same backbone as Sudoku — but instead of given clues, the grid is divided into bold-outlined cages. Each cage shows a target number and an operation (+, −, ×, ÷), and the digits inside must combine to hit that target using the operation, in any order.
Cómo jugar KenKen
- Fill every row and column with the digits 1 through N, with no repeats — just like a Latin square.
- The grid is divided into cages outlined in bold; each cage shows a target number and an operation.
- The digits inside a cage must combine, in any order, to produce that target using the given operation.
- A single-cell cage simply shows the digit that must go there — no operation needed.
- The puzzle is solved when every cage's arithmetic checks out and no row or column has a repeated digit.
Consejos y estrategia
- Single-cell cages are free clues — fill them in first.
- Large cages with a '×' target and a small grid size often only fit one combination of digits — work those out early.
- For a subtraction or division cage, try both orders (a−b and b−a, or a÷b and b÷a) since only one direction has to work.
- Once a cage is solved, cross-reference its digits against the row/column Latin-square rule to eliminate candidates elsewhere.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre KenKen
Is KenKen the same as Calcudoku?
Yes — Calcudoku is the generic name for the puzzle type; KenKen is the trademarked branding it's best known under.
Does the order of digits in a cage matter?
No — only the combination matters. Any arrangement of the same digits that hits the target with the given operation is valid, as long as it doesn't repeat a digit in a row or column.
What operations appear in KenKen cages?
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — subtraction and division cages always use the order that produces a positive whole-number result.